As the risk of fire in your home to reduce

Everyone feels consuming fire houses, property damage and threatening lives. Often the causes of fires are literally under our noses! Both lights on a Christmas tree, with a flammable object near the stove or misplace a piece of paper to it to blow a candle, or frayed wires ready to turn at any moment, there are many situations in many of the properties of the potential for disaster.

Dangers and Statistics

AccordingU.S. Fire Administration, in 2006, 3,245 civilians were killed following a fire in 81% of the houses. 16,400 civilians were wounded, and 106 firefighters lost their lives in service. Fire killed more Americans than all natural disasters combined. 1.6 million fires were reported, leaving more than $ 11 billion in direct property damage alone.1

The majority of deaths due to fires caused by smoke inhalation rather than the realburns received. So even if you can escape from the flames, it may be too late to survive after CO has stunned the lungs.
Fire risks are significantly increased during holiday periods. Dried Christmas trees, the increased use of candles, decorations, electric cooker and oven and frequent characteristic factors for this increase.2

Fire Safety Tips

The National Safety Council has some tips to prevent firesinjury, death and damage in home3:

• Each home must be reinforced with a smoke detector on every floor. All household members must be trained to recognize the sound of the alarm. The alarms should be tested monthly and batteries should be replaced twice a year, regardless of their ability to work.

• An escape plan should be prepared and practiced, so that no one is left in a panic for an escape route in case of fire.

• Contestslighters and candles should be kept out of reach of children.

• Regular inspection allows for early detection of line frayed or bare wires. Of course, to be discovered, discontinue use.

• Unplug appliances when not in use.

• All combustible items should be kept away from heat sources.

• Since many fires in the fireplace, should be periodically checked and cleaned.

• Each room should have twoescape routes.

• Equip your home with an irrigation system.

• Train children to respond appropriately to smoke by crawling underneath. Make sure to recognize and properly firefighters trying to save their answer. Make sure they know to call 911 and they are clearly able to dictate their way address.3

• Fire extinguishers must be readily available throughout the house, especially in areas most prone to startfire, and everyone should be able to use it. "The NFPA says to remember the pass word when using a fire extinguisher:

Pull the pin. Release the lock with the nozzle pointing away from you.

Aim low. Point the extinguisher at the base of the fire.

Squeeze the lever slowly and evenly.

Sweep the nozzle from side to side. "4

Risk Reduction

A typical house fire when there is a tendency or mobilecome into contact or proximity to electrical appliances such as lights or stoves. The continuous heat radiation can lead to these objects and caught fire. Such damage can be easily prevented by keeping electrical appliances a safe distance from flammable objects and turn off or unplug when not in use.

For homes that depend on a wood stove as a heat source, a screen, preferably without perforations to enclose the area so that sparks or pieces of coal canLeave the fireplace. Sparks land on a carpet, rug, or other objects can easily ignite a fire in the home side.

Additional measures of pressure-proof your home can be taken with a spray fire retardant. This slowdown can be used on tents, blankets, paper and wood products carpets, decorations, and many other objects in the house fire. Gel Fire can also be applied to buildings and property. Areas surroundedbrush many have a greater chance for the fire, and gels can help to protect these areas, the spread of fire. Although these products may invincibility is no way the fire is greatly reduced the ability to catch fire.

After a fire, it can be quite a hassle to remove the soot that remains of a house and to do this within the legal implications. Often, a sergeant of the police should be consulted to free the house of destruction. And 'much betterchannel to prevent the fire, so that restoration is never a problem. Limiting the possibility of fire is a worthy cause more than wait it's too late. Although you should equip your home with supplies, such as fire alarms, extinguishers and fire alarm systems, all possible means to prevent a fire should be of primary importance.

A little effort now to risks to inspect your property for the fire department maysignificantly reduce the risk of tragedy and painful loss due to fire. Do it now!

1 http://www.usfa.dhs.gov/statistics/quickstats/index.shtm

2 http://www.usfa.dhs.gov/downloads/pdf/tfrs/v1i4-508.pdf

3 [http://www.nsc.org/library/facts/fires.htm]

4 Home http://kidshealth.org/parent/firstaid_safe/ / fire. Html

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Like homeowners insurance rates by taking the lowest

You want the best possible protection for your home, but you also want the best insurance rate homeowners. E 'can cover both the rate of large and great? Absolutely! Follow these tips to find cheap homeowners insurance today.

Raise Your Deductible

The deductible is the amount paid for claims for damage before the insurer begins to pay. By setting the higher deductible you can afford, you will lower your premium. In In addition, there will be more likely to deliver small claims yourself, remember that the submission of too little can cause the premium to increase, and even your insurance company may cancel your political cause.

You can get all discounts

Discounts can lower your insurance premium even more. discount home town ...

* Non-smoker discount

* Discounts for safety features such as smoke detectors, sprinklers, alarm systems, fire> Fire extinguishers and deadbolts

* Senior Discount

* Auto / Home discount

Ask your insurer if there are other discounts that can benefit from and place them in your policy.

Compare prices of online shopping

insurance rates can vary widely from company to company. You can save hundreds of dollars a year just by taking a moment to compare shopping for homeowners insurance. And a few seconds, literally, all that is required ifgo online to an insurance comparison website. On this website, you will spend a few minutes to type in your insurance. After this information, the insurance companies with rating start sending quotations.

All you have to do is look over the offers and choose the best for you. And if you have any questions at any time, the best insurance comparison sites that you can talk with insurance experts for fast, accurate answers to your questions.

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Save on Home insurance quotes with fire extinguishers

With rising prices of everything these days, including insurance, the owners continue to seek new and innovative ways to save money. There are small things you can do to bring down the insurance quotes homeowners and one of those little things is to keep fire extinguishers on hand at home.

Just keep a fire extinguisher at home is not enough, as ahouse fire can be in any room of your house and you should be prepared for a fire in a specific area and after several fire extinguishers throughout the home will help you prepare for this. It 'also important to know that living close to home near fire hydrants or fire insurance may also lead to lower premiums on your homeowners.

Here are some other tips on safety from fire and highhome insurance costs.

Distribute or smoke detectors in the house and check the batteries and wiring.
O Stay away from junk storage, such as stacks of paper, boxes, books or near areas of high electrical activity.
o Keep the area around your home free of fuels such as firewood and propane.
o Do not overload electrical outlets. Use a surge protector you need.
Check or update your home heating and heating, cooling andelectrical systems.
or provide a clean fireplace and chimney.
or not smoke in the house.
Check equipment regularly or as a kitchen oven, stove, and dryer.

Fire extinguishers and more help to save on homeowners insurance

Do not take our word for it, talk with your insurance agent homeowners today about how something as simple as a fire extinguisher can save something precious, such as homeowners insurance.

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halon fire extinguishers - The Best Fire suppression device, there will never

Fire extinguishers are one of the best inventions of all time. Because of these devices, people have the opportunity to shoot to stop a bit 'worse. Where the fire is surrounded by factors that increase the might be avoided. Sometimes, when fire outbreak is imminent, this device may facilitate escape if you can use to find your way free.

As it has many applications, this device has many classes, too. For eachthe classification of fire extinguisher can be used to mean a class of fire. It is very 'important to know the use of a particular fire extinguisher, I know it can be very effective to extinguish the fire. These devices Have Different components or agent used. This particular agent would be good for the fire caused by a forest, but can not be good for a fire caused by kerosene. You can not just use a single device without knowing what it isbecause it is a total rejection of the device as well as your time and effort. Secondly, he is, but still a risk of re-start up, so you can still risk yourself. Thirdly, because of the ineffectiveness of the device, the fire may deteriorate and that would mean a bit 'late for you. So if you want to have a safety device that can shoot very active, you can use halon extinguisher.

This device is able to convertFire Class A, B, C and K. categories The compounds are used in extreme cooling have this effect on the fire. The chemical reaction will prevent this from happening. Radicals that contribute to change, eliminating the element oxygen, lowering the concentration of fuel and lowering the temperature. Halon 1301 and 1211 are well known for its variety.

1301 was introduced in 1954. It is a gaseous agent flooding. This means that they used to dump in a field full offire. Before the process of dumping, people are warned to evacuate and can be activated automatically or manually. People should be warned to evacuate, because the compounds used may cause a temporary change in perception. On the other hand, it is known that a liquid streaming agent in 1211. They are usually used as mobile phones or PDAs. The good thing about these products is that they do not leave harmful residues, because after widespread use inatmosphere.

Although halon extinguisher has gained popularity in firefighting equipment, have also gained popularity in the destruction of the ozone layer. Despite all this, is considered the best when you have a broad range and is not toxic for human use. Today are limited to military use. In some countries, are now considered illegal. It was not banned in the U.S. until the UP EPA encourages the use of devices that would notdamaging the environment.

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The history of fire extinguishers and other burning questions about fire extinguishers

Experts are still groping plausible explanations and answers since man was able to develop the ability to make fire. Now there are schools of thought, arguing that man invented fire, only caught the natural light. The explanation of how and when the man has his first experience with fire are varied, but scientists and experts agree that the fire will significantly improve human life.

Together with the advantages ofcriticized the dangers. These disadvantages include not only physical damage but also human victims. The most famous fires that have occurred in past centuries to confirm how threatening can burn when it goes beyond human control. The best known are the fires Great Fire of London, the San Francisco earthquake, fire, and the great Chicago fire. The fire in San Francisco is the most disastrous, with a total of 3,000 people killed and 300,000structures destroyed.

The man invented fire extinguishers to keep the threat to its existence and its properties. Unlike the history of fire, there is a collection of facts about fire extinguishers. If you are interested in fighting the fire and want to know more about what brand is your first line of defense against, you may find the following facts extinguishers interesting.

- 200 BC - Ctesibius of Alexandria considered it necessary to supply water to a fire quickly and without delay. He invented a pump for the purpose.

- The Middle Ages - During this period, flows were invented and became a popular struggle to fire. Squirt is a tool that fighting fires is the ability to apply the jets.

- 1723 - A chemist named C. Hopffer French inventor of the automatic detection> Fire.

- 1819 - Captain William George Mandy invented the first modern version of portable fire extinguisher.

- 1866 - A Frenchman Francois Carlier came with a fire extinguisher with a cylinder with a mixture of water and bicarbonate and a separate bottle filled with sulfuric acid.

- 1881 - M. Almon Granger has invented a soda-acid fire extinguisher.

- 1905 - A Russian named Alexander Laurant inventedchemical foam fire extinguisher.

- 1912 - The carbon tetrachloride fire extinguisher was invented by the company pyrene.

- 1924 - The Walter Kidde Company, the inventor of the carbon dioxide fire extinguisher.

- 1928 - an explosive dry chemical extinguisher was invented by the company Dugas.

- 1940 - Germany has invented a fire extinguisher designed for use in aircraft. The fire extinguisher contains liquidchlorobromomethane.

Discussions and further studies on the problems surrounding the history of fire and its significance for humans remains, but the dangers of fire and the extent of destruction may cause long been established. What are the new findings and conclusions about the fire that can be adopted in the future will surely be offset by new technologies extinguisher. Currently, fire extinguishers andthe rest of fire equipment with more than enough for humans to combat any fire that may threaten.

A fire extinguisher at home and at work can prevent a fire to become famous.

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Tips on what to do in case of fire

According to the Association of British Insurers, every day in the United Kingdom, 200 houses suffered a fire, and one person died and 40 injured in fire at home. Unfortunately, our many will be involved in a fire at home in a certain way in our lives, and is not likely to be much more fun. But there are preventive measures we can take to avoid this undesirable situation, and steps you can take to limit the damage, if we are unfortunate enough to have a home> Fire.

BEFORE: Precautions you can take

Document your belongings

For the purpose of potentially rely on the contents of house and home insurance, it is not a bad idea to keep your receipts, or digital photographs of individual items around the house that you may have to request. Remember that many mobile phones can double up for this purpose. Obviously, this precaution is not a specific brand - you can thank yourself for doing so if you are robbed,example.

Forewarned is forearmed

Fitting a smoke detector on every floor of the house is a good way to fire alarm in the early stages of one. If you do, you must ensure that they work regularly and the batteries are working - it makes little sense in a purely decorative smoke detector.

Be careful in the kitchen

Fires in the home more starts in the kitchen, usually the heat generated in the cooking. To this end, we neverleave things cooking on autofocus. And 'now becoming increasingly common for families of a kitchen fire extinguisher and fire blanket located in, and it is understandable why.

There is no smoke without fire

If you smoke in the house, will consequently be at risk of being involved in a fire at one point. So, do something for sure that smoking is right out when done. Moreover, it is best to avoid smoking when verytired, because it is common for fires to start when people fall asleep when she was still smoking. Sure Do not smoke in bed.

Put a check before going to bed

Fire presents a greater risk when you sleep - so check every room in the house for equipment left on, burning candles and links, etc. before going to bed.

COURSE: Out!

Have a plan and stick to it

When the alarm goes off at work insist that rights are tirelessly to rescuesomething, to organize themselves in a safe place and do a roll call - and with good reason. If the smoke alarm at home, you need to gather everyone in the house together, leaving through the fastest escape and call 999. The biggest mistake you can do in case of fire is going to find out what triggered the alarm. E 'possible for people in these situations to open the door to a combustion chamber, which then can cause the fire to spread faster, or fallingfrom the rest of their family.

Do not hold back!

Too often people go home and try to rescue possessions or pets. Unless the animal can not escape due to a cage or something, then they almost always done without human help. And the items can be covered by your home contents and building insurance. None of these things worth risking your life by returning to a blaze.

NA: Damage limitation

Safety First

If you suffer from breathing problems or discomfort after a fire, go directly to E. See your family doctor or nearest hospital A &

Returning to the scene

It is advisable not to return home after a fire in the house until you are told by trained professionals that it is safe to do so. Remember, even if you declare safe, may still be exposed to broken glass and sharp objects.

Who to call

After a fire, it is best not to assume that someone will contact yourHome> Insurance. The best is to get as quickly as possible to do to get the ball in terms of recovery to achieve, and ideally do so before you make free. You should also call for close relatives or friends to inform them of what happened, but I assure you that you're ok.

The consolidation

Do not try to clean all the items until a qualified restoration service has the opportunity to assess the damage to the fire. If the product is misused, it can eventually causefurther damage. Your home insurance probably be helpful here, because it will probably be able to get in touch with specialized cleaners.

For more information on fire safety at home, visit the Directgov site at http://campaigns.direct.gov.uk/firekills/

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Fire prevention at home

The fire is the worst thing to happen at home. Will not only risk to the building, but people who live in it as well. There are several fire home. That's why the fire is likely. To avoid this tragedy, be sure to take precautions to avoid it. There are several things you can do to keep your home fire safe.

Here are some tips to prevent fires inHome>:

1. Keep in mind the dangers of electricity. In most cases, an electrical fire starts and when it does, it will be right. To prevent this, avoid using extension cords. If you use one, make sure it is in good condition, no exposed wire. Do not put under a rug or twist the wire around a hook or nail.

2. The electrical cables and other items related to it regularly checked. Disconnect the deviceused. Avoid overheating of equipment, giving space for air to pass through. If your fuse box blows frequently, reducing the number of devices. When you register with temperature before use to ensure that it is not too strong for your mobile.

3. Take precautions in the kitchen. Keep combustible materials and ingredients away from the flames. It is also necessary that precautions be taken in the kitchen. Do not wear anything that will be easy to get stuck inthe flame.

4. If you have candles in the room, keep them away from flammable objects like curtains and drapes. Put before leaving the room. Do the same for your stove. Turn it off when not in use and make sure that flammable items away from home. Beyond the tents, there are carpets and furniture. Be sure to place it in a safe place where it can not easily be overturned by councils, children and pets.

5. Consideration should also beelements that can cause fires, out of reach of children. This includes matches and lighters. You should also keep flammable liquids or chemicals away from them because they can play when cooking or around the fireplace. You talk about fire, it is best to pay attention more.

6. Install smoke detectors and make sure you check regularly. Smoke detectors are useless if they are damaged. Ensure that theyalways reliable, and place strategically around your home.

7. But above all, invest in fire safety. You should have fire extinguishers at home ready. Do not forget to place them in visible and accessible areas. Make sure family members know how to use well. You also need a plan. Let your family know that they can use the exit in case of fire.

Always take measures to prevent fires.It is also essential that you are prepared if ever happens.

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Choosing the Right Fire Extinguishers

Often, someone who needs a fire extinguisher will buy an ABC fire extinguisher without giving much thought to the actual fire hazards they need to protect against. When buying fire extinguishers, you need to know several things about extinguishers in order to make an informed decision, specifically, the fire class you need to protect against and special conditions you need to consider (computer electronics, for example).

Classes of fire extinguishers

When it comes to fire extinguishers, there are five classes of fires: A, B, C, D, and K.

Class A - Fire extinguishers rated for Class A fires have a green triangle with an "A" in the center as well as a pictogram of a garbage can and wood burning. These extinguishers are used to put out fires for common combustibles like paper, cloth, rubber, and some plastics (materials that leave ash when burnt, hence, the "A").
Class B - Fire extinguishers rated for Class B fires have a red square with a "B" in the center as well as a pictogram of a gasoline can with a burning puddle. These extinguishers are used to extinguish fires for flammable liquids like gasoline, lubricating oil, diesel fuel, and many organic solvents found in laboratories (things found in barrels, hence "B").
Class C - Fire extinguishers rated for Class C fires have a blue circle with a "C" in the center as well as a pictogram of an electric plug with a burning outlet. These extinguishers are used to extinguish electrical fires for energized electrical equipment, electric motors, circuit panels, switches, and tools ("C" for current-electrical).
Class D - Fire extinguishers rated for Class D fires have a yellow pentagram (star) with a "D" in the center as well as a pictogram of a burning gear and bearing. These extinguishers are used to extinguish fires from metals and metal alloys like titanium, sodium, and magnesium.
Class K - Class K fire extinguishers are used specifically for cooking fires from grease, fat, and cooking oil ("K" for kitchen).
You can get fire extinguishers with a single class rating or multiple fire class ratings (ABC or BC, for example).

Fire extinguishing materials

Fire extinguishers use different materials for extinguishing fires. When choosing your extinguisher, you need to determine what type of fire you may be fighting and then choose the best extinguishing material for your application.

Water: Water, or APW, extinguishers use pressurized water to extinguish fires. APW extinguishers can only be used for Class A fires (combustibles such as paper, cloth, etc.); they cannot be used for putting out other classes of fires.
Dry chemical: Dry chemicals are used to extinguish A-, B-, C-, or D-type fires. They work by putting a fine layer of chemical dust on the material that is burning. Dry chemical extinguishers are very effective at putting out fires. However, dry chemical extinguishers can be abrasive and corrosive to electronics and certain other materials.
Carbon dioxide: Carbon dioxide works by removing oxygen from the immediate vicinity of the fire. Carbon dioxide extinguishers are only ever used for B (flammable liquid) and C (electrical fires) extinguishers. For computer, medical and scientific equipment, and aircraft electronics, carbon dioxide would be a better choice than dry chemical extinguishers because a carbon dioxide extinguisher leaves no residue.
Metal/sand: Some class D fire extinguishers use metal or sand, such as sodium chloride (NaCl) or powdered copper metal, to smother fires from metals and metal alloys.

Special applications

Some fire hazards require specialized extinguishers. Here are a few examples of those applications.

Metal or sand extinguishers are used to put out class D (metal and metal alloy) fires:

Salt (sodium chloride--NaCl) is the most commonly used material in metal/sand extinguishers. NaCl extinguishers work well with fires involving magnesium, sodium, potassium, alloys of potassium and sodium, uranium, and powdered aluminum.
Sodium carbonate extinguishers are also used on fires involving sodium, potassium, and alloys of potassium and sodium. Where stress corrosion of stainless steel is a consideration, this type of fire extinguisher would be a better choice than an NaCl extinguisher.
Powdered copper (Cu) metal is used for fires involving lithium and lithium alloys.
Graphite powder extinguishers are used on lithium fires as well as fires that involve high-melting-point metals like titanium and zirconium.
Sodium-bicarbonate-based extinguishers are used on fires involving metal alkyls and pyrophoric liquids.
Halotron I is a clean agent replacement for Halon 1211, which was banned from use due to its ozone depleting properties. Halotron I extinguishers are used for extinguishing fires in computer rooms, clean rooms, and where telecommunications equipment or electronics are present. Halotron leaves no residue and is nonconducting but is more expensive than carbon dioxide. It should be noted that Halotron I will no longer be produced after 2015.

FE-36 (CleanGuard) extinguishers are another clean agent replacement for Halon 1211. FE-36 extinguishers are less toxic than Halon 1211 and Halotron I and reportedly have no ozone-depleting potential. FE-36 is also used for fires in computer rooms, clean rooms, and where telecommunications equipment or electronics are present. Unlike Halotron I, FE-36 is not planned for phase-out.

Nonmagnetic fire extinguishers: Wherever strong magnets are in use, for example, near magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometers (NMRSs), nonmagnetic fire extinguishers should be chosen. The strong magnetic fields generated by this type of equipment can cause steel cylinder fire extinguishers to fly across a room with deadly force.

It is important to ensure that you have the proper fire extinguishers for your environment or potential fire dangers. It can be the difference between whether your fire is eliminated or causes a catastrophy.

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Kitchen Safety Tips - Avoid A Stew Of Risks & Make Your Kitchen Safer

No, we're not talking about a collapsed soufflé or overdone pot roast. We mean actual risks to life and limb. When it comes to safety in the kitchen, what should you really be paying attention to? Learn how to avoid a disaster by following these simple kitchen safety tips.

Kitchen Safety Tip #1: Keep a Fire Extinguisher Handy

Most house fires start in the kitchen, especially grease fires. You can avoid this danger by keeping your oven and stove top clean. Unfortunately, accidents can still happen. If you experience a grease fire:

If your stove catches on fire, turn off the burners or oven, if you can.

Most importantly, NEVER pour water on a grease fire. Water just moves the grease around, aggravating your grease fire.

Instead, use a lid or larger pan to cover the grease fire. You can also use baking soda or salt on small grease fires. And you can smother an oven fire by keeping the door closed. Of course, a kitchen fire extinguisher is better. Always use the dry, multipurpose type rated for class A, B and C fires, and check it periodically to make sure it's fully charged.

If the fire won't die or begins to spread, call the fire department and get to safety immediately.

Not all kitchen fires start when you're present, so change the batteries in your smoke detector annually, and get a new smoke detector every 10 years.

Kitchen Safety Tip #2: Pay Attention to Handles, Utensils and Sleeves

Always turn pan handles inward toward the center of your stove when you're cooking. Store utensils in a handy place, so you don't have to reach across hot burners to grab a spatula to flip a burger or stir a pot. Avoid wearing long, loose sleeves that hang over burners and might catch on handles.

Kitchen Safety Tip #3: Enforce Safety Rules in the Kitchen

Your kitchen is not a playground. While you won't want to banish your children entirely, it's always good to take a look at your kitchen from their point of view. Are handles dangling close to highchairs?

Are burner knobs accessible? Even placemats can be hazardous: They will easily scatter cutlery and break glass when pulled on. Older kids can be just as problematic as toddlers, because of their inattention and tendency to dash through rooms.

To maximize safety in the kitchen, supervise your children. If your kids aren't helping out with tasks that teach them age-appropriate kitchen skills safely, they may belong elsewhere.

Kitchen Safety Tip #4: Treat Sharp Items with Respect

Keep sharp blades out of reach when they're not in use. Store your knives properly, in knife guards or a butcher block. Never leave knives in a sink full of water, where children, pets or someone washing dishes may encounter them unexpectedly.

Use cutting boards so knives don't accidentally skid off the counter. Sharp knives cut smoothly and predictably. Get a knife sharpener and use it. And whenever possible, use higher-quality cutlery, because it is less prone to bend or snap. And when it comes to the whirling blades of the disposal, food processor or blender, be cautious. Never reach inside, and always unplug if possible immediately after use.

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Fire Extinguisher Class - An Explanation of Extinguisher Classes

Fire extinguishers are commonly used safety devices that are found in various homes, workplaces, labs, and hospitals. There are many different types of fires so it seems only natural that these fires would have different fire extinguishers specially designed to handle that particular combustion. You can find the right kind of fire extinguisher for your particular uses by understanding fire extinguisher class, or the different classes that extinguishers qualify under.

There are four more basic fire extinguisher classe, divided into A, B, C, and D. They are all qualified by the types of burning materials that can be put out with them. You can find the right one for you by reading the descriptions below.

A Class A appliance is going to be a great basic fire extinguisher for the home. It can put out basic materials like wood, paper, cardboard, and even some plastics. Using the Class A fire extinguisher might not be so great in the kitchen, where you may need to extinguish burning fat. It is also suitable as a small camping fire extinguisher. These extinguishers are further divided in this class by the numbers that appear alongside the letters. These numbers are representative of how much fire can be put out by that particular appliance.

The Class B extinguisher is great for use with flammable or combustible liquids like oil and gasoline. If you are in a workshop or car garage, the Class B extinguisher may be a great choice for you. The numeric value that divides the different extinguishers in this class is proportionate to the number of square feet that can be extinguished by the appliance.

Class C extinguishers (in the US only) are unique in that they are designed to deal with fires involving electric equipment, wiring, breakers, or circuits. Using water on these fires only greatly increases the risk of electric shock. You should provide an appropriate fire aplpiance in many different establishments where the risk of electrical fires is a possibility. This especially includes older houses and buildings with a great amount of electrical power. All employees should be trained in this area. The Class C extinguishers do not conduct electricity and also do not have a numeric rating system, as the above mentioned classes do.

Class D extinguishers are also a category of appliance that does not contain a numeric ordering system. They are specifically for putting out chemical based fires. These combustible chemicals are dangerous and must be put out if caught on fire by a Class D extinguisher. Many labs and science centers are ready to fight these specific accidents with a Class D extinguisher.

Fire extinguisher class can be an important factor when determining the right extinguisher for your lab, home, work space, or garage. You should make sure that your extinguisher also is the right class for your establishment according to your own local laws and regulations. Failure to obtain the proper extinguisher can result in legal and safety trouble, so do your research and don't go out and buy any random extinguisher.

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Fire Extinguisher Classifications - How to Understand Each Class of Fire Extinguisher

All fire extinguishers are given a classification, primarily in order to show what kind of fires they are safe to use on. This is important because using an extinguisher on the wrong type of fire can have disastrous consequences. For example, if you use a water extinguisher on a fire involving any electrical equipment, you are risking electrocution and possible death. 
 
Classifications are made up of letters and numbers. The letter part of an extinguisher classification tells us what fire type the appliance is suitable for. Each type of fire is given a class, which is designated by a single letter. When you look at the classification on the side of an extinguisher, what you see will be one or more letters, showing all the types of fire that the appliance is safe to use on. So there may be one letter, or several.
 
The other thing that fire extinguisher classifications do, is tell us something about how effective an extinguisher is, or 'how much' fire it can put out. This is indicated by a number which is shown next to the letter on the classification. A higher number indicates that the appliance can deal with a bigger fire. The numbers correspond directly to set fire tests that the extinguisher has been subjected to. The rating an appliance ends up with will generally relate to the actual amount (distances or areas) of fire that it was able to extinguish. For example a classification of 13 means that the appliance was able to extinguish 1.3m of fire in the test situation.
 
On every extinguisher you will see one or more letters, and a number, giving you important information about the type of fire you can use it on and how effective it is likely to be. This kind of information can be crucial when you have to make a decision about whether to tackle a fire or not.
 
There are slight differences between fire extinguisher classifications in the UK and in the US. The UK system is the same for whole of Europe and Australia too. 
 
Extinguishers for dealing with fires involving everyday combustible matter such as paper, cardboard, wood or textiles are given an 'A' classification. This is the same in both the UK and US.
 
Extinguishers designed specifically for use on flammable liquids such as oils, spirits and petrol, are given a 'B' classification. Again, this classification is the same in the UK and US.
 
In the UK there is a separate class C rating for extinguishers that are safe to use on flammable gases, such as natural gas or propane. In the US this category is included in the 'B' classification.
 
Appliances that deal with fire on combustible metals have a 'D' classification in both the UK and US.
 
In the UK, electrical fires do not have a separate classification, though they are occasionally wrongly referred to as class 'E'. Electricity is viewed more as a cause of fire and source of ignition than a classification in the UK. Remove the electrical supply and the fire becomes a class A, B or whatever. In the US electrical fires are known as class 'C'.
 
Finally, the specialist appliances which are the only ones safe to use on burning deep fat fires are classed as 'F' in the UK and 'K' in the US.
 
Fire extinguisher classifications give you valuable information that you need if you are faced with a fire. The information on the extinguisher is only of use if you know for sure what is burning. If you have any doubt about what is actually on fire, you should not attempt to put it out.

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The History of The Fire Extinguisher and Other Burning Issues on Extinguishers

Experts are still groping for plausible explanations and answers as to when did man was able to developed the capacity to make fire. Meanwhile, there are schools of thought arguing that man did not invent fire himself but only captured natural fires. The explanations regarding how and when did man got his first experience with fire are varied, but scientists and experts agree that fire significantly improved human lives.

Along with the advantages of fire come its perils. These drawbacks does not only include damage to property but also human casualty. The most famous fires that occurred in the last few centuries confirm how threatening fires can be when it goes beyond man's control. The most famous fires include the great fire of London, the San Francisco earthquake fire, and the the great fire of Chicago. The San Francisco fire is the most disastrous with a total of 3,000 people killed and 300,000 structures destroyed.

Man invented fire extinguishers to keep fires from threatening his properties and his existence. Unlike the history of fire, there exists a collection of facts about fire extinguishers. If you are interested about fire fighting and would like to know more about what will be your first line of defense against fire, you might find the following facts about fire extinguishers interesting.

- 200 BC - Ctesibius of Alexandria found it necessary to deliver water to a fire fast and without delay. He invented a hand pump for the purpose.

- The Middle Ages - During this period, squirts were invented and became a popular against fighting fire. Squirts is a fire fighting instrument that has the ability to apply jets of water to fires.

- 1723 - A chemist named French C. Hopffer invented the automatic fire extinguisher.

- 1819 - Captain George William Mandy invented the first version of the modern portable fire extinguisher.

- 1866 - A Frenchman named Francois Carlier came up with an extinguisher with a cylinder containing a mixture of water and bicarbonate and a separate bottle filled with sulfuric acid.

- 1881 - Almon M. Granger invented a soda-acid fire extinguisher.

- 1905 - A Russian named Alexander Laurant invented the chemical foam extinguisher.

- 1912 - The carbon tetrachloride extinguisher was invented by the company Pyrene.

- 1924 - The Walter Kidde Company invented the carbon dioxide fire extinguisher.

- 1928 - A cartridge-operated dry chemical extinguisher was invented by the company DuGas.

- 1940 - Germany invented a fire extinguisher designed for use in aircraft. The extinguisher contains liquid chlorobromomethane.

Debates as well as further studies on the issues surrounding the history of fire and its significance to man may still continue, but the dangers of fire and the extent of destruction it may cause have long been ascertained. Whatever new findings and conclusions about fire that may be established in the future will definitely be compensated by new fire extinguisher technology. At present, the fire extinguishers and the rest of the fire fighting equipments available are more than enough to fight any type of fire that may threaten man.

A fire extinguisher at home and in the workplace can stop a fire from becoming famous.

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Car Fire Extinguisher - A Car Safety Device

Like domestic fires, car fires are considered as one of the most typical causes of damage in property. In the United Kingdom, though car fires are not prominent, the rising number of arson cases has become a point of concern among property owners. Most of the car fires and related cases in the United Kingdom are said to be deliberate, as the cars involved are mostly stolen. Statistically, it is estimated that out of a thousand vehicles, two of them are damaged due to fires and related incidents.

One of the best ways to lessen if not prevent the damages, would be through the use of a car fire extinguisher. If you happen to own a car or drives one on a regular basis, it is best to have a firefighting device in place. Surprisingly, a motor vehicle is considered a fire-magnet, due to the presence of potential risks and dangerous elements. Prime examples of which would be oil and gasoline. In addition, a motor vehicle also consists of combustibles like car upholstery. The car's electrical wiring can also be a cause of car fires, due to possible short circuits. Another point of concern would be fuel leakages, as brought by faulty and defective fuel lines. The car's batteries can also be considered potential hazards, due to probable release of battery acid. And if you are thinking of electric and hybrid cars as fire-proof vehicles, think again. Hybrid and electric cars are also susceptible to risks because of their battery's components. The batteries which are mainly composed of lead-acid or Li-ion, are also susceptible to explosion and leakages.

On the other hand, many cars have built-in features in them, making it less prone to fires and accidents. Safety features like smoke detectors and temperature sensors have been incorporated within these vehicles to ensure safety. However, fire safety devices like a car fire extinguisher also provide additional protection. These types of extinguishers are also considered practical and handy, given the urgency of fires and related incidents. The device does not only guarantee a person with initial protection, but it also lessens eventual damage to property. More so, several car fire cases show that the use of this device actually gives the passengers enough time to get out of the car and head their way toward safety. Besides, most fires initially occur in the engine compartment, therefore the use of extinguisher somewhat increases the passenger's chance to survive if not her chances to seek necessary help.

In times of emergencies like car fires, it is advisable to consider the following procedures and steps. First, if you are driving and your car accidentally caught fire, it is best to pull over, turn off the engine and get out of the vehicle immediately. It is also best to notify authorities at once and call the emergency services for help. Be mindful of the extent and severity of each fire-related situation. Be careful in extinguishing fires as this may lead to further injury if not done properly. Do not try to extinguish a seemingly uncontrollable fire, since such incidents require the assistance and action of professionals and fire authorities. You may also want to take note of possible toxic fumes and emissions, as these often lead to toxic inhalation. In the end, preparedness will always save us from harm, especially if we are armed with proper equipment. It does not only reduce the risks but likewise gains us an advantage, which is to live and be free from fire-related dangers.

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Be Safe and Have Fun When Using Your Deck Fire Pit

If you've been thinking about putting a fire pit on your deck, with the cooler months approaching, now may be the perfect time!! Fire pits are appealing both aesthetically and emotionally. Few accessories offer warmth, light, and ambiance while simultaneously providing an inviting atmosphere.

While fire pits are a great adjunct to a home, there are a few safety concerns, and this article will cover many of them. Please don't forget, fire can be dangerous, so always be cautious. There are a myriad of safety issues, and this article cannot cover every circumstance. This article addresses many safety concerns so you, your family, and friends can safely enjoy your fire pit.

Before you purchase your fire pit, research your county and city codes regarding fire pits. Be sure you understand your local regulations - fines can be hefty and they are so easy to avoid!!

Once you know the rules and regulations, purchase your firepit. Before you use your fire pit for the first time, read the owners manual. It will instruct you on how to setup the fire pit properly and will address many safety concerns. If you have questions, contact the manufacturer. Don't guess.

FirePit Safety Concerns:

1. First and Foremost: Never leave a fire unattended for any amount of time. Always leave an adult by the fire to make sure it is safe, and be attentive while the fire is active. Ensure there are no stray sparks and that the fire is safe. Keep a fire mat around the fire pit, and keep a fire extinguisher or hose nearby in case of an emergency. Don't forget, a single spark can turn into a fire. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure!

2. Keep the deck clear of clutter. Fire pits will spark, and a spark can easily hide. If you keep the area around the fire pit free of clutter, you will be better able to see any stray sparks.

3. Maintain a good distance from the bottom of the fire pit to the floor of the deck. This will help minimize missing a stray ember.

4. Purchase a fire extinguisher and fire mat. Keep the fire extinguisher nearby in case of emergency. Don't forget - fire extinguishers will expire, and you need to make sure that yours is in top working condition.

5. Do not get too close to the fire. Clothing can catch on fire - especially polyester materials. Keep children away from the fire and be cognizant of their proximity to your fire pit.

6. Do not place your fire pit under a roof. It is for outdoor use, and will be unsafe if used under a roof or inside a closed location.

7. Once you are finished with the fire pit, make sure the fire is completely out. A single ember can relight and this can be a very dangerous scenario.

Fire pits are wonderful and will offer years of enjoyment. Just be aware, safe, and enjoy. If you are interested in purchasing a firepit, please visit our site firepitdeals.com.

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Abandon Ship! - Boat Extinguishers, Safe Petrol Practices, and Protecting Your Boat From Disasters

In the time before boat extinguishers, one of the most dreaded weapons in the Byzantine Empire's arsenal was the terrifying "Greek fire". To modern minds, it seems strange that the weapon would be such a threat: a few flares fired at a boat, patches of oil that continued to burn while floating on the surface of the water. But for the all-wood navies of the past, to catch on fire meant losing a boat and all souls aboard it.

Today, people no longer cruise the seas in wooden ships, nor are they constantly menaced by Greeks who bear the gift of fiery death. But petrol engines and fiberglass construction bring with them their own dangers, and a proper attitude toward fire safety while on the water is still the one best way to avoid ever having to call "Abandon ship!"

First: make sure your boat is well-stocked with extinguishers. How many extinguishers you'll need depends mostly on the length of your boat. Anything under about 25 feet can be covered by two good boat extinguishers, rated at least 5A/34B separately or 10A/68B combined. For boats 25 feet and up, it's better to use three good extinguishers of at least this rating. An extinguisher in the bow of your boat is no good if you've got a fire at the stern: keeping enough extinguishers to cover your boat's length is essential to good fire safety.

Second: most boats, sail or "stink", involve at least some petrol usage for trolling motors or full-blown boat engines. Never refuel these engines while you're actually on the water--that's just an invitation for fires. When you do refuel your engines while docked, make sure to keep all galley stoves, motors, and electrical devices off. One spark can cause more trouble than you'd think.

Third: in the event that a fire does break out, don't ever go back into the cabin, galley, or any other enclosed space. Smoke collects in these spaces very quickly, and it's easy to become totally overwhelmed. Keep yourself awake and alert by avoiding these enclosed spaces and fight fires from the deck. (As a corollary to this rule, don't store all of your fire extinguishers in one place. One in the galley and cabin area is enough to stop any fires that happen here before they start--your other boat extinguishers should be kept out in the open, so that you don't pass out just by trying to pick up your extinguisher.

Fire safety is a serious issue on the water. Protect yourself and your boat by following these safety guidelines, and it's a sure bet that you'll never cry "Abandon ship"--except for the fun of it, of course.

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Workplace Fire Hazards

While workplaces dealing with construction and manufacturing may seem the most likely to be plagued by risks to employee well being, any sort of work environment can contain serious hazards. One hazard that does not discriminate based on the nature of the workplace is the possibility of fire. Fires can be caused by anything from oil leaking from a machine on an assembly line to a short circuited wire in a fax machine. Employers are responsible for making sure that the places in which their employees work are free from serious fire hazards.

To help protect workers, all workplaces should have set regulations for limiting fire hazards, as well as set plans for the event that a fire does start. The OSHA small business handbook provides some important advice for avoiding a devastating fire in workplace environments. The tips are presented as a list of questions for business owners to ask themselves. Examples include, "If you have a fire alarm system, is it certified as required and tested annually?" and "Are automatic sprinkler system water control valves, air and water pressure checked periodically as required?" Evacuation maps and procedures should also be clearly posted near all entrances and exits.

Employees should help take fire safety into their own hands. Even between safety training sessions, they should take the time to go over evacuation routes, fire extinguisher use, and ways to keep the workplace safe for their coworkers. In workplaces where fire is a necessary factor, such as metal manufacturing plants or areas with exposed flame cooking surfaces, workers must be particularly careful and correctly utilize all required protective gear.

The consequences of a serious fire can truly be catastrophic. Just like a house fire, a fire in the work place creates risk for smoke inhalation, severe burns, roof collapses, and even death. A serious burn can land an individual in the hospital for days or weeks, and leave them unable to work while the recover. This can put extreme financial strain on a family, particularly if they were struggling to get by before the accident. The combination of missing work and steep medical bills can be crippling in many circumstances. If you have been injured in a workplace fire and feel that your employer's negligence is to blame, you may want to consider filing for workers' compensation.

For more information about workplace hazard and workers' compensation, visit the website of Philadelphia workers' compensation attorneys Lowenthal & Abrams, P.C.

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Emergency Evacuation Supplies and Plans

It goes without saying that it is important to have emergency evacuation supplies and plans for both your home and your office. One never knows when an emergency may strike and it is best to have a clearly planned evacuation scenario in place. After all, what if the emergency struck in the middle of the night? Would you be at your sharpest, thinking clearly, being woken from a deep slumber to chaos? No. That is why you should think through disaster scenarios during a time of normalcy. What evacuation routes will you take? What precautions need to be in place? What supplies and tools should you have on hand and incorporate into your emergency evacuation plans?

When you sit down with your family to work on your emergency evacuation supplies and plans you should set a number of parameters. Designate a meeting place for everyone to gather once they've evacuated the premises. Identify all exits and possible evacuation point available in the structure. Develop different plans for different scenarios. Should a fire break out, certain exits may not be available for escape usage. Part of your emergency plans should involve making sure you have good quality smoke alarms and that their batteries are changed often enough to ensure they are in optimal working condition.

Another helpful alarm system to factor into your emergency evacuation supplies and plans is a carbon monoxide alarm. This silent and scentless gas can be very harmful, and even cause death. An alarm system in your home or office would alert you to the presence of an unhealthy level of carbon monoxide. Other essential emergency evacuation supplies include fire extinguishers, fire escape ladders and fire blankets. Think of it this way, if a fire is literally knocking at your bedroom door, wouldn't having a fire escape ladder to put outside your window give you a lot of peace of mind? Every home and office should contain multiple fire extinguishers to aid in putting out fires as they start and preventing them from turning into large scale emergencies.

In summary, it is prudent to prepare your emergency evacuation supplies and plans in advance. You should have a plan in place for both your home and your office. Make sure all smoke and carbon monoxide alarms are functioning. Equip your residence and office with fire extinguishers. Plan escape routes. Finally, review, revise, and update your emergency plan and supplies at least once every 6 months.

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Keep Safe While Keeping it Neat With Fire Extinguisher Cabinets

Investing in a good fire preventive and safety measure is like taking out a life or health insurance policy. You pray with all your might that nothing bad happens to you but you believe that it does not hurt to be prepared. You tuck away your policies in safes until the need arises. How about those red canisters? Leaving them lying around or in corners are not only hazardous especially when you have toddlers running around but are eye sores and disrupt the harmony of your interior design. A little bump here may knock down the equipment; these things are heavy and may crush a kid's toe easily. Or worse, the pin may be yanked off and the kid may be taking a shower with potentially toxic chemicals. Why not duplicate what you did with those insurance policies? Store your canisters in a fire extinguisher cabinet! That way, you know you have increased your chances in fire prevention and improved your fire safety measure as well without creating new risks for your family.

Fire Prevention and Safety, A Must in Every Home
The head of the family must not only provide for his or her family's daily basic needs but at the same time make sure that the whole family is as safe as a nut in a nutshell. Safety does not solely come from store bought gadgets but in personal daily habits and practices too. Teaching everyone the Do's and Don'ts are not enough because accidents do happen no matter how careful and diligent everyone is. The hazards do not only come externally but begin internally as well. A small unnecessary and unwanted flicker here may result in a dangerous blaze.

The chance to save property on top of saving life is as precious as any opportunity that fate will offer to anybody. The trauma it will cause to one who managed to run out of a burning house, who has to watch everything he has worked hard for get voraciously consumed by fire, is incalculable. Everyone will want to try and save something other than what he or she is wearing during the tragedy. More so of course when one will get the chance to save everything. The fire safety measures of your home are already great. While the fire alarms you had installed all around your house are commendable, these things will only warn you early enough to save your own life but will be of no help to you when it comes to saving your home once misfortune strikes. Why not add another important feature to your abode? Fire preventive measures would not hurt but would actually be very helpful.

Fight fire at the first instance, like giving first aid before the injury worsens. First aid kits are a staple in every home and so should extinguishers. As much as you can, try providing one for each room throughout your entire house and even outdoors. Fire can start anywhere and at any time without warning. Why wait for the fire fighters to come when you can save your own home?

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Moving Into Your New Home - A Checklist For Your New House

Moving to a new house can be a hectic time for the whole family. There are so many details to think about that some can be easily overlooked. Unpacking is not the only thing you should worry about. The things you need to do can range from taking care of your finances to installing fire extinguisher cabinets. Organization is the key in making the whole process of unpacking and getting ready for your new home easier. With this in mind, here is a helpful checklist you can use after moving to your new place.

1.The first thing you have to do is to install new locks. Since you are new to the building or area, you still probably have no idea who has a copy of your current keys. This will ensure that no one can get inside the house except you and your family.

2.Inspect and make sure all your appliances are not damaged during the move. Some insurance policies have limited time in which to make a claim. If there is damage, report it immediately.

3.Important documents and receipts related to your move should be placed in a safe and locked drawer. Save all receipts of the money spent on the moving process, the permanent improvements and damages that were fixed so you can use these for tax deduction purposes later on.

4.Check the house for any damage and have preventive maintenance as early as possible.

5.Find and register your children into their new schools. The sooner your children will get used to a regular routine, the easier it is for them to settle in your new place.

6.Have an emergency storage close to your house exit. Keep all poisons, medicines, and other dangerous substances away from children and kept in child-proof cabinets.

7.Flashlight, matches, batteries and candles should not be placed within children's reach. Place it in a top drawer with a lock.

8.Keep in touch with insurance companies including household, health and automobiles. Check if you are currently covered or if you need to create new policies with a new company. This is important especially if you are moving to a new state.

9.Take care of your finances by opening up new bank accounts.

10.Inform your old residence or post office of your change of address so that your mails will be forwarded to your new place.

11.Have smoke and fire alarms installed inside your new house. If there are old ones already installed, check if it is still functioning properly and change batteries. Purchase fire extinguishers for your kitchen and garage. Have them placed in fire extinguisher cabinets to keep them from being damaged.

12.Ask your doctors and dentist for referrals in your new town and have a copy of your old records.

After you are settled in to your new home and followed this checklist, you should introduce yourself to your new neighbors. In no time you and your family will feel adjusted to your new place and enjoy bonding with your new neighbors and friends.

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Protecting Your Home From a Fire is the Best Thing You Can Do

Buying a home is a really good investment option. Most of us look towards buying our own home because it gives a sense of pride and more security than living in a rental home. However, as a Texas homeowner, it is important to be aware of situations that can cause accidents. Many times homes get destroyed by accidental fires. The only way to prevent such a disaster is to be aware of situations that can cause this to happen.

One of the most common causes of fires is wrong handling of home electrical appliance. People are often seen to overload outlets or piggyback extension cords. The result is a fire that sweeps through the home, causing everything to be lost. To prevent this you never want to overload electrical outlets. With every appliance, comes an instruction manual on its usage. It is important for buyers to follow all these instructions, so that their electrical appliances work correctly and do not cause any fire accidents. Most of the time, people just want to use the appliance and over look any rules on the way it should be handled. The result of this is an accidental fire because of wrong handling.

All electrical tools and appliances should be checked once in a while for their condition. This means looking into their inner workings and noting the existence of any frayed or cracked cords. This ensures that you always have appliances working properly and everything about them is okay to handle. When purchasing an appliance, it is always best to buy ones that comply with Underwriter's Laboratory's (UL) safety requirements. As this is one of the best ways you can be assured that you have a device that is standard.

Sometimes and sadly, the cause of accidental homes fires is children who innocently play around electrical appliances such as heaters and irons. Keep children away from these as children can inadvertently cause a spark to come off and the entire piece of equipment can burst into flames.

Beyond these measures, if you happen to face an electrical fire situation, the first thing to do, is shut off the burning appliance by unplugging the chord. Always have a fire extinguisher ready to put out the fire and never at any point should you attempt to put out an electrical fire by pouring water over it.

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RV Fire Safety

Did you know that there are close to 20,000 reported RV fires each year? A large percentage of these fires are transmission related fires on motor homes. Automatic transmission fluid leaking from the transmission can ignite, and quickly spread if it contacts any portion of the exhaust system. Before traveling in your RV inspect the underside for any signs of fluid leaking. Have any potential leaks checked out and repaired immediately.

Over 25 percent of RV fires are caused by shortages in the 12-volt electrical system. Not only do you need a fire extinguisher, you need to inspect it before each trip to make sure it is charged. Look to see if the arrow is pointing in the green area in the sight gauge. If it reads empty or needs charging replace it or have it recharged immediately. If it's a dry powder type fire extinguisher the arrow pointing in the green doesn't always guarantee that it will work. Every month you should turn dry powder extinguishers upside down, tap on the bottom of the extinguisher and shake it. It should sound hollow, sort of like a drum. If not, continue tapping on it until it sounds hollow and the powder that settled in the bottom is released.

There are four different types, or classes of fire extinguishers, A, B, C, and D, and each type is for a specific type of fire.

Class A extinguishers are used for fires caused by ordinary combustibles like paper and wood.

Class B extinguishers are used for fires caused by flammable liquids like grease, gasoline and oil.

Class C extinguishers are used for fires caused by electrical equipment.

Class D extinguishers are used for fires on flammable metals and often they are specific for the type of metal it is.

Some fire extinguishers have multi class ratings like, AB, BC or ABC which means one fire extinguisher can be used to put out different types of fires. The National Fire Protection Agency rules that RV's must have a "BC" rated fire extinguisher near the exit. "BC" rated fire extinguishers are used for flammable liquids and gasses like grease, gasoline and oil, and for electrical fires. Many RV fires that happen inside an RV are type A fires caused by common combustibles like paper, and they require a type A fire extinguisher to put them out. This is why, in my opinion you need more than one fire extinguisher for your RV.

It's a good idea to keep a BC type fire extinguisher in an outside storage compartment where it is easily accessible. You should also keep a BC type fire extinguisher inside the RV and keep an A type fire extinguisher inside the RV. If you tow a trailer keep a BC type fire extinguisher in the tow vehicle too.

Having these fire extinguishers available is a great idea but they are worthless if you and the other people traveling in the RV don't know what type of fire they are used for and how to properly use them. Get everybody who will be in the RV together, and make sure they understand the different types of fire extinguishers you have and where they are located in the event of an emergency.

The old style labeling for fire extinguishers, to designate what type of fire they are used for was with the letter A, B, C or D

Newer style labeling for fire extinguishers includes a picture designating the type of fire it is used for.

If it can be used for multiple types of fires it will show the pictures for the types of fires it can be used for and it will have a red diagonal line through the picture of what it cannot be used for.

Once everybody understands the different types of fire extinguishers the next step is to teach everybody how to properly use a fire extinguisher. There are different types and sizes of fire extinguishers, but for the most part they all work the same way. Teach everybody to remember the word PASS. This is an easy way to remember how to use a fire extinguisher, especially during an emergency. PASS stands for Pull, Aim, Squeeze and Sweep.

Pull the pin located at the top of the fire extinguisher.

Aim the nozzle at the base of the fire.

Squeeze the handle, standing approximately 8 feet away from the fire.

Release the handle if you want it to stop.

Sweep the nozzle back and forth at the base of the fire until it is out.

Observe the fire to make sure it does not re-ignite.

Last but certainly not least you need to have an emergency escape plan. The National Fire Protection agency requires that RV's have emergency escape windows. Make sure everybody knows where the escape window is located and how to use it. It's a good idea to practice using it so you are familiar with how to get out of the RV in case of an emergency. You should have an escape plan for the front of the RV and the rear of the RV.

Most important, do not risk your personal safety, or the safety of others, attempting to put a fire out. The first step is to get everybody out of the RV and away from the fire safely. Have somebody call 911 for help, and if you can't extinguish the fire within the first minute or so let the professionals put it out.

Happy Camping!

Copyright 2006 by Mark J. Polk owner of RV Education 101

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Smoking Related Fires Are a Real Threat to Nursing Home Patients - Is it Time to Put Out the Fire?

It only is a matter of time before another nursing home fire claims the life of another patient. While less publicized, hundreds of elderly people receive burns every year during their admission to skilled nursing facilities. Anyway you look at the situation, fires in nursing homes remain a real-- yet under-appreciated threat to nursing home patient safety.

According to the Government Accountability Office (GAO), from 1994 to 1999 approximately 2,300 nursing homes reported some type of fire at their facility each year. Equally alarming is that the GAO has found the number of severe fire deficiencies in nursing home has increased steadily from 2004 through 2007.

In response to this safety threat, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) now requires a smoke detector in every patient room and in public areas. Additionally, automatic fire sprinkler systems must not be installed in new facilities and retrofit in existing facilities over the next four years.

While compliance with CMS regulations may help reduce the chance of fires in skilled nursing facilities, owners and administrators should evaluate all activities and determine what policies may be implemented to further promote patient safety.

Step #1: Eliminate Smoking In Nursing Homes

Smoking in nursing homes can at best be considered counter-productive to patient health. Perhaps more accurately, smoking in nursing homes is threat to all patients and staff. Even when monitored, there is an increased risk of fire in nursing facilities that permit smoking compared with those that do not allow it.

Therefore, I propose nursing homes force patients to toss out their cigarettes or seek alternative facilities.

In addition to safety concerns related to fire, allowing patients to smoke in a nursing home diverts staff resources to the supervision of patients who choose to smoke and away from the task of providing skilled nursing care.

According to The National Fire Protection Association, elderly people are more than three times more likely to suffer a smoking-related injury than their younger counterparts. One need not look far to see examples of smoking accidents in nursing home and assisted living facilities:

Dallas, Texas- Woman dies in a fire at an assisted living facility. The fire inspector determined the fire started due to 'improper use of smoking material'

Chicago, Illinois- Two patients died at Hampton Plaza Nursing Home from smoke inhalation. The fire department concluded that the fire was started by smoking materials stored in a patient's closet.

Whittier, California- A nursing home patient with dementia ignited himself while attempting to light his cigarette. A investigation into the matter revealed the staff was unaware that the man was even outside of the facility.

Lebanon, Indiana- An oxygen dependent patient started a fire at an assisted living complex when the oxygen tank exploded as she smoked.

I doubt we will nursing homes flocking to change their policies to 'smoke free' overnight. In the meantime, facilities should take steps to develop a smoking policy that is both realistic to implement and enhances patient safety. Here are some suggestions for developing a smoking policy:

Designate a smoking area for patients that is supervised and well ventilated.

Ban all smoking in patient rooms. Studies have shown that the risk of fire increases when people smoke in bed.

Establish an evacuation policy in case of a fire or emergency. Similarly, inform all staff and patients as to the location of fire extinguishers and teach them how to use it.

Keep all smoking materials including lighters and matches in possession of staff and locked at all times.

Provide ashtrays and smoking aprons (outerwear made from fire-proof material that reduces the chance of a stray ash igniting a patients clothing)

Develop a smoking cessation program.

Make sure your facility has smoke detectors and a sprinkler system.

Allow patients to smoke only when supervised by staff members.

Develop a set of consequences for patients who fail to follow the policy.

Write down your facilities smoking policy and give a copy to all patients and their families.

While the above guidelines may reduce the chance of fires in nursing homes, eliminating smoking remains one of the easiest ways to improve the overall living conditions for all patients and nursing home staff.

Jonathan Rosenfeld is an attorney based in Chicago who handled elder abuse and neglect cases in the Midwest and across the country. Mr. Rosenfeld works on the following types of cases:

Bed Sores, Pressure Sores, Decubitus Ulcers
Falls
Dehydration / Malnutrition
Medication Errors
Impacted bowels
Sex Abuse
Medical Errors

Feel free to contact Jonathan for a free case evaluation. (888) 424-5757

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Tips to Make Home Insurance Costs Tumble

One of the key ways to drive down the amount you spend on insurance for your home sweet home is to keep claims to a minimum. Claiming for items lost to theft or damage can increase future premiums so prevention is better than cure when trying to avoid making a claim in the first place.

Theft is one of the most common reasons why home insurance claims are made for loss of belongings and/or damage to property. In the United Kingdom there are over one million burglaries and attempted burglaries each year and consequentially theft accounts for around 340,000 annual home insurance claims.

Keeping your home safe and sound is therefore important and can be done with relative ease. Burglar alarms are an effective way to reduce the likelihood of being broken into and act as a deterrent as well as raising the alarm if anything were to happen.

Window and door locks may also deter would be thieves and having a secure home could save you money when it is time to get a home insurance quote.

Fire is another common reason for house insurance claims so make sure you have smoke alarms fitted and keep at least one fire extinguisher in the home. Kitchens are a likely room for fires to start so you may want to stash one here. Fire blankets are an additional item that could minimise damage if a fire was to break out.

An easy way to reduce home insurance costs involves simply shopping around to find the most cost competitive deal. Most insurance providers have websites where you can calculate the cost of the policy you would need and then compare quotations against each other. A little bit of time spent researching could save you pounds in the long run so it is definitely a worthwhile exercise.

To ensure everything is fair and square, remember to compare like for like when looking at different home insurance policies. With the ability to do all the research from the comfort of your own home you can take your time and be confident that you have sourced the best policy for your needs. Another benefit of arranging your home insurance via the world-wide-web is the discount you sometimes receive for ordering your home insurance quotes online. Various insurance providers will offer a special online discount for new policies so bear this in mind when scouting around.

A final tip to help reduce the risk of an accident occurring is to make sure you switch off electrical items when you leave your home and before going to bed. Simply switching off electrical items significantly decreases the risk of fire and this rule also applies to washing machines, dishwashers and other white goods.

Kitchen appliances may be the last thing you expect to catch fire but they are one of the most common culprits so make sure the appliances are properly certified and be sure to read any guidelines that come with your appliances.

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A Home Fire Extinguisher Can Protect Your Family and Property

Having a home fire extinguisher in your house for those emergencies can save lives and property. If a fire starts, grabbing your fire extinguisher can dramatically reduce damage to your home, stop the spread of the fire and may save lives. It can also suppress the flames while you and your family escape and while waiting for the fire department.

You could have a hundred extinguishers in your home but nothing matters more than having a fire plan for your family. Everyone in the family needs to know what to do in case of a fire. Make a plan on how to escape, where to meet outside and make sure everyone knows how to call 911. If you go ahead and put out the fire (say in your kitchen), go ahead and call the fire department anyway so they can make sure the fire is out.

The National Fire Protection Association (nfpa.org) recommends a home fire extinguisher for each floor. It is recommended to have an extinguisher in your kitchen, garage and one on every floor. This includes the basement main living floors, floors with bedrooms and in a walk in attic.

Kitchen - Kitchens are where most fires start. Place it near the door and net near the stove. When a fire starts at the stove, you can get the extinguisher easily and do not have to reach over the fire to get it.

Garage - The garage is also a good place to keep one. The garage usually has paints, solvents and building material along with it being used as general storage. Mount the extinguisher near the door to have access to it during a fire.

Selecting the correct home fire extinguisher for your house will take some thought. There are several different types of extinguishers on the market and choosing the right one for the particular fire situation is important. If you have a grease fire and use the wrong extinguisher, you could spread the fire and make it worse. Using an extinguisher made for putting out a wood fire on an electrical outlet could kill you.

Fire extinguishers are rated by fire class. Home fire extinguishers are classified A, B, or C or a combination of the three. Many of the extinguishers you can purchase in the home centers are classified as A:B:C and fight all three types of fires. There is a D class which deals with flammable metals in industrial situations and is not for the home.

Class A - The Class A extinguisher is made for ordinary combustibles such as paper, wood, cardboard, and simple plastics. These extinguishers are filled with water which is under a very high pressure and will "choke" the blaze by deleting its supply of oxygen.

Class B - The Class B extinguisher is made to handle flammable combustibles such as grease, oil, and gasoline. These extinguishers are filled with a chemical mixture which is designed to extinguish the blaze safely. Using water on a grease fire will spread the it and cause more harm.

Class C - The Class C fire extinguishers are designed for electrical flames. They use nonconductive flame retardants to smother the electrical blaze. It is extremely dangerous to use water on a Class C fire. You can severely electrically shock yourself and even kill yourself. Keeping a Class C in your car or near electrical panels is a great idea.

Class D - The Class D blaze involves flammable metals. The Class D flame will typically be encountered in a manufacturing or laboratory setting. Many suppliers sell combination extinguishers like ABC or BC extinguishers. The Class D extinguisher is never combined with others classes. These extinguishers use dry powder and not dry chemicals as used in B and C blazes.

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