When and how do you use a fire blanket?
A fire blanket is a safety device designed to extinguish small incipient (starting) fires. It consists of a sheet of fire-retardant material, which is placed over a fire in order to smother it.
Small fire blankets, for use in kitchens and around the home, are usually made of either fibreglass or woven-nylon coated with silicone-based flame retardant and folded in to a quick-release container.
When do you use a fire blanket?
1. Fire blankets are ideal for extinguishing small flammable liquid fires, such as kitchen pan fires;
2. Fire blankets can be used to put out a fire on a person, and
3. Fire blankets can be wrapped around a person to protect the person needing to escape from a building that is on fire.
How do you use a fire blanket to put out a flammable liquid fire?
1. Turn of the gas or electricity if possible;
2. Remove the fire blanket for the box by grabbing and pulling the tags;
3. Hold the fire blanket out in front of you and twist the tags inwards so that the fire blanket protects your hands;
4. Slowly approach the fire. Do not use the fire blanket if the fire is bigger than the blanket;
5. Put the fire blanket of the fire. Don’t throw it because if you miss you may not get a second chance;
6. Do not touch the blanket for 30 minutes. The blanket may be very hot and the fire could reignite when you remove the blanket.
The fire blanket should be fixed to a wall in the vicinity but not too close to the stove to protect.
Don’t forget: never try to extinguish a flammable liquid fire with water as the results could be disastrous.
Remember to have your fire blankets serviced annually be a licensed fire protection company.