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Laura007

gutted, no squirting of extinguishers

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i went on a fire marshall course this morning, the chap doing it was an ex fireman. now, if he said it once he said it half a dozen times " the only way to get used to the extinguisher is to use them" i sat there thinking great when do we get to have a squirt........still sat there waiting..........starting to get a bit fidgity with excitement, but no. sorry but we dont do that in these traing sessions. WHAT!!!!!!!!! they tell you that if it is a small fire and you feel confident enough to tackle it, then have a go. how do you feel confident if you have never fired one before.

 

dont get me wrong, i hope NEVER have have to use one, but it would be nice to no what to expect, seeing as the co2 one make a loud shrill noise when it is used.

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We asked the local firestation to bring a fire engine along to an NCT Tea Party one year - we said it was for the children, but all us female volunteers only really asked them so we got to ogle some yummy firemen. Who did they send but someone who couldn't ever be described as yummy and a woman!

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We asked the local firestation to bring a fire engine along to an NCT Tea Party one year - we said it was for the children, but all us female volunteers only really asked them so we got to ogle some yummy firemen. Who did they send but someone who couldn't ever be described as yummy and a woman!

 

:lol::lol::lol::lol: first serious laugh I have had today, thanks!

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I have done several of these courses and we always got to have a go using various kinds of extinguisher before elf and safety realised that it was dangerous and somebody could get hurt learning how to survive an inferno.

 

Since then the European 'must have everything the same' brigade decreed that ALL extinguishers must be RED and therefore the tiny print on them must be READ before you know what kind of extinguisher you are about to use.

 

The Fire safety people now advise you to leave the building as quickly as possible whilst the fire service have to do a risk assessment outside on whether or not it is safe to rescue you. :wink:

 

It is counter productive to use a fire extinguisher unless you happen to know it personally and can vouch for its type, and then only if it can help you get to the nearest exit when cornered by fire.

 

The bottom line is, it is never safe to tackle a fire unless you have been trained to do so, and it is no longer deemed safe enough to be trained how to do so.

 

Part of my best and most useful fire training course involved going into a training building at the Fire station which was then set on fire. We all had BA sets and were supervised by Firefighters. We were never in any danger and we got to put the fire out. It was brilliant! :lol: We were taught how to get out of a smoke filled bulding as well as how to search one for people as the Fire Service do, all whilst the buiding was on fire. :anxious:

 

The course was also timed to coincide with the latest intake of trainee Firefighters, we as apprentices in the chemical industry were well impressed with the whole set-up and a few lads asked about signing up as firefighters instead.

 

You missed out there, sorry for the ramble :oops:

 

Kev.

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The bottom line is, it is never safe to tackle a fire unless you have been trained to do so, and it is no longer deemed safe enough to be trained how to do so.

 

 

 

That was a really interesting post Kev.

 

I work on a site where there is a fire extinguisher every few meters yet I have never been trained on how to use them in the 21 years I've worked here. Having said that, we are subject to all sorts of fire hazards as I work with and around compressed and highly flammable gases, if something were to happen we'd just run away as fast as possible :wink:

 

Even the fire brigade draw straws if they get a call from us :shock:

 

Sorry you got disappointed Laura - I've always wanted a go at the foam ones - sounds really messy :lol:

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I have done several of these courses and we always got to have a go using various kinds of extinguisher before elf and safety realised that it was dangerous and somebody could get hurt learning how to survive an inferno.

 

Since then the European 'must have everything the same' brigade decreed that ALL extinguishers must be RED and therefore the tiny print on them must be READ before you know what kind of extinguisher you are about to use.

 

The Fire safety people now advise you to leave the building as quickly as possible whilst the fire service have to do a risk assessment outside on whether or not it is safe to rescue you. :wink:

 

It is counter productive to use a fire extinguisher unless you happen to know it personally and can vouch for its type, and then only if it can help you get to the nearest exit when cornered by fire.

 

The bottom line is, it is never safe to tackle a fire unless you have been trained to do so, and it is no longer deemed safe enough to be trained how to do so.

 

Part of my best and most useful fire training course involved going into a training building at the Fire station which was then set on fire. We all had BA sets and were supervised by Firefighters. We were never in any danger and we got to put the fire out. It was brilliant! :lol: We were taught how to get out of a smoke filled bulding as well as how to search one for people as the Fire Service do, all whilst the buiding was on fire. :anxious:

 

The course was also timed to coincide with the latest intake of trainee Firefighters, we as apprentices in the chemical industry were well impressed with the whole set-up and a few lads asked about signing up as firefighters instead.

 

You missed out there, sorry for the ramble :oops:

 

Kev.

 

i just wanted to have a go with one, like i said i hope i would NEVER need to use one, but i would still quite like a go all the same. :D

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Years ago I did a course where we DID have a go putting out flaming petrol with CO2 extinguishers (which were black in them days).

 

Top tip - never put your hand on the metal part of the extinguisher because it gets very very cold and you can get freeze burns. If your hand is wet it'll stick.

 

I taught science in a lab with a fire extinguisher for nine years without ever being trained in what to do with it. Our drill is: get kids out, shut the windows and door, get out yourself.

 

That wasn't much help when our technician dropped a bottle of concentrated sulphuric acid in the prep room and filled the building with fumes. We got everyone out safely, then the fire brigade, disguised as yellow teletubbies in their chemical suits, came within seconds of spraying it with water (BIG NO-NO :!: ) It took ten very panicky science teachers to prevent them from doing so. I thought they were supposed to consult their hazard info before treating chemical spills????

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Well don't want to make you all jealous, but I use fire extinguishers most days, because I am an Extinguisher Technician, It's nothing to get exited about once you have set them off a few times, the foam ones are messy but you are not allowed to empty them in the street any more so there is no mess really, nothing to it at all, all in a days work. :)

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Years ago I did a course where we DID have a go putting out flaming petrol with CO2 extinguishers (which were black in them days).

 

Top tip - never put your hand on the metal part of the extinguisher because it gets very very cold and you can get freeze burns. If your hand is wet it'll stick.

 

I taught science in a lab with a fire extinguisher for nine years without ever being trained in what to do with it. Our drill is: get kids out, shut the windows and door, get out yourself.

 

That wasn't much help when our technician dropped a bottle of concentrated sulphuric acid in the prep room and filled the building with fumes. We got everyone out safely, then the fire brigade, disguised as yellow teletubbies in their chemical suits, came within seconds of spraying it with water (BIG NO-NO :!: ) It took ten very panicky science teachers to prevent them from doing so. I thought they were supposed to consult their hazard info before treating chemical spills????

 

My blood went cold when I read that :shock:

 

Surely that is the first thing they are taught about Sulphuric acid :?

 

I learned it in school chemistry 25 years ago and I still remember it :lol:

 

Still if you want a new science block on the insurance :think:

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In Sheffield you could get fireman to come round in their engine to your house to install your smoke alarm. 8)

 

I went on a course for my PhD where I had to know all the types of fire extinguisher to put out fires in my department. Everyone had to go, then take refresher courses online every year. He set off the CO2 one to demonstrate the noise. I don't think they coiuld afford to let people have a go as so many, but I think it would make sense as I would feel nervous about using one for the first time in a fire.

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Many years ago I was a car racing marshall ( you know the poor souls in orange overals that hang aroung race tracks) and got sent on a car fire course as part of my training. I spent a whole day letting off foam & powder extinguishers 8) .............great fun although my fringe was a little frizzled from the heat.

 

My current boss heard about this and decided I could be the fire marshall at work.........as far as I am aware I just have to get everyone out as fast as possible ( no one has ever bothered to tell me exactly what I am supposed to do, even when I asked !)

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