First Aid Fire Fighting and Fire Extinguishers
First aid firefighting can best be described as extinguishing a fire in its initial stages by using whatever means is readily available.
Under certain conditions this could be as simple as shoveling dirt onto a small fire to put it out, or using a blanket to smother a flame by reducing oxygen. A pile of burning sticks can be pulled apart to diminish the intensity of the flame and the heat.
Fire and emergency alarms
Fire and emergency alert alarms are located throughout the shipyard and drydock area. They are also installed inside ships under repair when their fire alarms, fire suppression systems or general communication lines are not operational.
Employees are not expected to fight fires. Your responsibility in a fire situation is to alert others and to evacuate.
Small fires can often be put out quickly by a well-trained individual with a portable fire extinguisher. However, to do this safely, you must understand the use and limitation of a portable fire extinguisher and the hazards associated with fighting fires.
Do not attempt to extinguish any fire without calling for help and pulling the fire alarm. Always leave an exit at your back in order to escape before using an extinguisher. Make sure the fire is limited to the original material ignited and is contained (such as in a waste basket).
To extinguish a fire with a portable extinguisher, a person must have immediate access to the extinguisher, know how to actuate the unit, and know how to apply the agent effectively. Attempting to extinguish even a small fire carries some risk. Fires can increase in size and intensity in seconds, blocking the exit path and creating a hazardous atmosphere. In addition, portable fire extinguishers contain a limited amount of extinguishing agent and can be discharged in a matter of seconds. Therefore, individuals should attempt to fight only very small or incipient stage fires.
Types of Fires and First Aid Fire Extinguishers
A fire will continue as long as there is sufficient fuel, heat and oxygen. The burning process can be interrupted by means of an extinguishing agent, such as a fire extinguisher.
First aid extinguishers are designed to deal with fires in their infancy. They can be mounted on a wall in a worksite, or they can be carried to the jobsite to extinguish small fires that may result from hot work. Fire extinguishers are effective for immediate small fires and are required even in areas that have overhead fire suppression systems, sprinkler systems, or deluge systems.
The advantages of fire extinguishers are that they are portable and can be moved as close to the fire source as possible. They are also simple and easy to use. There are various classes of fires and types of extinguishers.
Shown here is a reference chart showing the symbols for different types of fires.
| Symbols & colours for extinguisher classes based on type of fire fuels | Intended fire extinguisher Purpose | Type of Fire extinguishing agent(s) required |
|---|---|---|
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Class A Extinguishers - For ordinary combustibles like wood, cloth, plastic, paper, rubber, etc. | Water, Foam, Dry Chemical |
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Class B Extinguishers - For fires due to flammable liquids like, oil, gasoline, oil-based paints, petrol, etc. | Foam, Dry Chemical, Carbon Dioxide |
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Class C Extinguishers - For fires generating from equipment or appliances connected to electricity. | Dry Chemical, Carbon Dioxide |
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Class D Extinguishers - For flammable metal. Needs special extinguishing agents. Found typically in factories | |
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Class K Extinguishers - For combustible cooking oils like vegetable oils, fats, animal oils & more. In general meant for commercial kitchens | Foam, Carbon Dioxide |
Once you understand the symbols for different types of fires, you then need to know what type of fire extinguisher should be used with what type of fire.
Although most extinguishers can be used on more than one class of fire, none can be successfully used for all types of fire situations. Always look carefully at the markings and instructions on the extinguisher.
- Water Extinguishers are used with Class A fires and may be either pressurized or pump activated.
- Halon Extinguishers are ozone depleters and have been banned. They may still be found in some locations and can be used, but not refilled. They can be used for Class A, B and C fires.
- Dry Chemical Extinguishers may be designed for Class B and C fires OR Class A, B, and C fires – depending on the type of agent contained in the cylinder.
- Carbon Dioxide (CO2) should be used on Class B and C fires. It can be recognized by the fibre horn. Carbon dioxide has the advantage of not leaving a residue.
You can use a dry chemical extinguisher to put out Class D fires, but it must be specific to the type of material that is burning.