Reasons to Own a Fire Extinguisher
Fires have devastating effects on people and property. They may not happen every day, but it is okay to take precautions. Fire safety is not only important when saving lives but also in preventing property damage. Placing fire extinguishers in easily accessible places is vital in preventing the spread of fire when an accident occurs.
A Fire extinguisher is usually the first line of defense. However, they are put in a corner somewhere and long forgotten. An ignored fire extinguisher is a safety hazard that could lead to the loss of life and property. There is every reason to have a fire extinguisher on your premises. Below, we highlight some of those reasons.
Legal Requirement
The law requires staff to receive training on how to handle a fire extinguisher. If your exit emergency plan involves fire extinguishers, then training is a must. Just like a driver’s training, the same applies to fire extinguishers. Not knowing how to use them could be dangerous to everyone involved.
Injury Prevention
Rushing to stop a fire without knowledge of how to use an extinguisher is inviting disaster. There is an estimate that 1.3 million cases have been reported. Out of those numbers, 15700 people suffered from injuries, and 3280 of them lost their lives. Having a fire extinguisher, especially in crowded places, can save a lot of lives. Places like schools and restaurants should always have one nearby at all times.
Environment Conservation
The toxic fumes released when a fire breaks out have hazardous results in our environment. When fire burns, harmful fumes like carbon monoxide, smoke, and greenhouse gases get into the air. When these gases mix, they slowly eat away at the Ozone layer. The layer prevents harmful sun rays from reaching us and affecting our skin.
Using a fire extinguisher before the production of toxic gases helps in environmental conservation.
Health Protection
The smoke produced is not only harmful to our environment but also our health. The gases emitted form a complex mixture that contains fine particles. When inhaled, they can be life-threatening. The fine particles travel down your respiratory tract, causing a lot of health problems. They clog your airways and lungs and could lead to lung and heart failure. These are riskier to children, expectant mothers, the elderly, and people with underlying respiratory issues.
Poor fire management can have catastrophic effects. Not only are the lives of people are stake but also valuable property. Having a fire extinguisher as a fire safety measure is vital, as shown above.
