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What to do in a fire; how to use an extinguisher

Follow these vital steps to stay safe in case of a fire.

What to do when a fire breaks out
· Evacuate the house immediately
· Call civil defence at 997
· Close the door to delay the spread of the fire
· Try to extinguish the fire without risking your life
· If you have to force yourself to escape through thick smoke, curve your body and crawl on your hands and knees. Smoke usually rises, leaving a space of clean air at a height of 60cm from the ground level. Crawling helps provides safety in this area away from the toxic content of the smoke
How to use a fire extinguisher
Remember the simple acronym P.A.S.S. to help you use the fire extinguisher effectively. P.A.S.S. stands for: Pull, Aim, Squeeze, Sweep
· Pull the safety pin from the handle. The pin is located at the top of the fire extinguisher. Once removed, it releases the locking mechanism, allowing you to discharge the extinguisher
· Aim the extinguisher nozzle or hose at the base of the fire. As explained, this removes the source or fuel of the fire. Keep yourself low
· Squeeze the handle or lever slowly to discharge the agent. Letting go of the handle will stop the discharge, so keep it held down
· Sweep side to side approximately 6in or 15 centimetre (5.9 in) over the fire until expended. The sweeping motion helps to extinguish the fire. Stand several feet or metres back from the fire: fire extinguishers are manufactured for use from a distance
· The fire may flare up somewhat as extinguishing begins due to the flames being pushed away from the burning material (the real target) by the agent and gust of propellant. Do not be alarmed so long as it dies back promptly.