Have you ever used a fire extinguisher?
By jpso138
@jpso138 (7851)
Philippines
June 8, 2009 5:35am CST
Well, I think that almost everyone of us are familiar with fire extinguishers. Usually they are place strategically in different buildings just in case a fire may occur. I am just curious if how many of us here have used one. Have you used it to put of some fire? I am very familiar with the extinguisher being a safety instructor. Have you every used one?
3 people like this
13 responses
@weirdo55 (77)
• Philippines
22 Jun 09
No, I haven't. Which kinda makes me feel uneasy if you think about it. Because you never know when you might actually need to use one. I think a lot of people haven't had the opportunity to try to use it, and i also think most people don't know how to operate one (just like me). I think that it's important that we do know how to use a fire extinguisher because when an emergency arises, i don't think we still have time to stop and read the instructions. Right? :)
1 person likes this
@jpso138 (7851)
• Philippines
22 Jun 09
I do agree with you my friend. It is sad 
to note that here in our country, safety training is not given much importance. Even with the use of extinguishers, many people are still not aware on how to operate. It is really important that we should know this considering that you can never tell when the need arise.
to note that here in our country, safety training is not given much importance. Even with the use of extinguishers, many people are still not aware on how to operate. It is really important that we should know this considering that you can never tell when the need arise. @oyenkai (4394)
• Philippines
10 Jun 09
Come to think about it, I don't even know how to use a fire extinguisher. I've seen it handled in hollywood movies but most of what they do there aren't real so how would I know, right? Also, it looks pretty heavy to me.
I wonder if there's an opportunity to try using a fire extinguisher? That would be something really educational and something that might come handy in the future. Buying one for myself doesn't seem to be a practical approach at the situation :P
Thanks for the response on my discussion!
1 person likes this
@jpso138 (7851)
• Philippines
13 Jun 09
Hi there oyenkai, you are right. Using an extinguisher requires good training considering that there are things you should know before using the extinguisher. You should also be familiar with the different classifications of fire considering that the extinguisher is rated for different types of fires as shown on the letter symbols you can see on the container. With respect to the weight, I am very sure that you can manage it. A portable extinguisher per standards should not be more than 23 kilograms. This is to insure that any adult person can carry and operate the equipment.
@lkbooi (16070)
• Malaysia
9 Sep 10
Hi jpso138, very true that fire extinguisher is quite familiar to us. We could see these essential extinguishers in red at every floor of the private or public buildings here. These extinguishers with their striking color are placed in the conspicuous area where everyone could see them easily. This is for the convenience for the residents to use them to extinguish fire when encountering any occurrence of fire disaster 
I think it's nice as well as safe for everyone to have the knowledge to operate fire extinguishers correctly and safely so that we wouldn't feel handicapped when fire disaster taking place. I'm lucky that I haven't come across any fire disaster so far so I haven't used any before. I have a smaller car fire extinguisher in my car for emergency use.
Happy posting 
I think it's nice as well as safe for everyone to have the knowledge to operate fire extinguishers correctly and safely so that we wouldn't feel handicapped when fire disaster taking place. I'm lucky that I haven't come across any fire disaster so far so I haven't used any before. I have a smaller car fire extinguisher in my car for emergency use.
Happy posting @jpso138 (7851)
• Philippines
13 Sep 10
I am glad that we share the same idea about the importance of fire extinguishers. They may not be useful all the time but should there be a need, it will certainly make a difference. I also have a small extinguisher in my car. I have seen situations where a car is totally destroyed by fire simply because there wasn't any extinguisher to use which eventually led to total burning of the fire. Happy posting likewise.
@jpso138 (7851)
• Philippines
8 Jun 09
I see, your roommate must be trying to become a good cook. Well, I think it would be safe to say that you do find the equipment important.. Am I right? Perhaps this is the reason why they call this equipment the "First aid firefigthing equipment" since you can easily use it when a fire occurs. Best to you and hope you wont be encountering the same situation again.
1 person likes this
@williamjisir (22819)
• China
24 Oct 09
Hello jpso. I have never used one, but we were once taught theoretically in the big auditorium of our school for more than one hour with PPT. We learned a lot from the lecture. I think that it is very important for us to master how to use it properly in case something happens in the house.
@jpso138 (7851)
• Philippines
24 Oct 09
Yes you are right. Learning to use this things can come in handy when there are fires. As you can see, fires if not immediately put off can be very devastating. The key is to fight them out right away. The best thing to use is of course the extinguisher. I am glad that you have joined a lecture on how to use them.
@jpso138 (7851)
• Philippines
6 Sep 10
Hi cream, it would be useful to learn how to use a fire extinguisher. But let us not hope that we will be using it since using it on actual situations would mean there is a fire and that is something that we do not want to happen. At least if there is that event, it will certainly be an advantage. Thank you for the response and be safe always!
@gemini_rose (16264)
•
8 Jun 09
No I have never had to use a fire extinguisher, I think if the occasion ever arose where I had to use one then I would be stuffed because I would not have a clue!!
@jpso138 (7851)
• Philippines
9 Jun 09
Hi there gemini_rose. I do hope that you will not be in such a situation to use one. But just in case, what is important is presence of mind and dont panic. In most countries where safety standards are given importance, people are trained how to handle and use fire extinguishers. Some thought that its as easy as squeezing the handle. That is the easy part. But knowledge on the basic use is also very important to know. Best to you and be safe always!
@charlenmendoza (922)
• Philippines
13 Jun 09
i have no reason to used that and i am praying that i will never used fire extinguisher. i always see it in every building, my office, every building here in my place. although i dont have it at home, what i do is i always make sure that everything is in safe order.
@jpso138 (7851)
• Philippines
14 Jun 09
From what I understand charlen you are a very safe person. Well, some companies actually orient their employees on how to use the extinguisher. It really depends on the safety standards of companies as well as with the country. Well, I do hope that you will never be in the situation to use one. Be safe always.
@jheLaichie (4438)
• Philippines
29 Jun 09
no i haven't my friend. but i see one fire fighter used one. he demonstrated it in our work place before. ofcourse i have tried holding it. but not totally using it. i want to try but afraid too. i kind of know how to use it though. i know its a lot of help having a fire extinguisher in the office or even in our homes.
jhelai
@jpso138 (7851)
• Philippines
29 Jun 09
I see, well at least you have seen someone use it for demonstration purposes. I have been conducting safety trainings to different groups and companies as well as to students. Truly it is important that one should be trained on things like this. If you don't mind, what company do you work for?
@chiltacs (49)
• Philippines
27 Jun 09
hi sir! never in my life that i was able to hold, use or operate a fire extinguisher...its very useful especially encountering emergency situations when fire occurs...hope i can try to get familiar with it...a thing would be useless if a person don't know how to operate it...so much better if we are oriented on how to use it! that's all..hehehe
@jpso138 (7851)
• Philippines
27 Jun 09
Yes, I agree with you. The important thing is to know and orient yourself on how to use this equipment. We all know that fire can happen anytime. Fire is very difficult to put off once it starts to grow big. So the important thing is to stop it while still small. Using the extinguisher is obviously the best solution and our knowledge on how to use this equipment is very important.
@ggurlz (8)
• Philippines
19 Aug 09
My Best Friends she told me., It's very easy. Pull the pin and press the handle. Be sure to aim! We've used big ones and little ones. Hold on to the big ones, lots of pressure to come out. Be ready.I know I was always apprehensive that i would be able to do it in an emergency but.
@jpso138 (7851)
• Philippines
19 Aug 09
Yes, you seem to have the idea there. In fact there is an acronym for that. PASS, this means PULL the pin, AIM low at the base of the fire, SQUEEZE the handle and SWEEP from side to side. Well, obviously its very easy to do such procedure. But nevertheless, it is really important to have a basic training about fire to insure that we do not put ourselves in danger during such fire emergency.
@diane23 (10)
• Philippines
15 Sep 10
haha.. embarrassing to admit but i haven't use one and i don't even know if i knew how to use a fire extinguisher!lol But im thankful that i haven't had any experience on needing one.. and never wished.. 'coz fires are awful and devastating. But i sure hope that i could try one, just to check to if i really knew how.. just in case of emergency..:)
@Bingster_6 (309)
• Philippines
25 Oct 10
Well, in my 20 years of existence, poor me, I haven't tried using a fire extinguisher, I've only seen it in malls and in the office of my sister.
I'm interested using one soon, but I'm not praying having a fire just for my intention and I want to join a seminar about fire alarm too. My sister said that it is so easy to use a fire extinguisher, you will just open it and spray it in a zig-zag manner cause you're gonna make the smoke from the fire extinguisher like a blanket, that it can cover the fire.
