Now imagine that you are a car passenger on a great trip. Then, you smell burning. Your heart is racing, and your palms are sweaty. What would you do? That is why having a car fire extinguisher is important. It can put out the flames and keep all of you safe.
In this blog post, you’ll learn how to use a car fire extinguisher and why you need to have one in your car. We will discuss the best use for it and the best for cars. So, by the end of it, you’ll know everything to keep your family and friends safe during a car emergency.
Why Do I Need a Fire Extinguisher on My Car?
Every car has some trouble within it. This, in turn, may even catch fire!! An auto fire extinguisher kept on the car can be employed for extra defense. Imagine any containers holding different fuels, even batteries or some electric devices starting to catch on fire.
Everything can come about either by pure accident or malfunctioning. That’s exactly why one may need the presence of the fire extinguisher!!!
Fires in the vehicles spread very fast. Time plays an important role here. If a fire extinguisher is present, you can fight the fire sooner. You would not have to wait for others to come and help or try to pull everyone out of the car. You will be able to fight the fire right away. A small fire may grow bigger fast, but the fire extinguisher will prevent that.
How to Choose the Best Fire Extinguisher for Your Car
Having decided that you want an extinguisher, let’s discuss how you can choose the best. It needs to be small, user-friendly equipment doing the job. The crème de la crème will carry letters and symbols. Here are some of the best ones to consider:
- ABC Fire Extinguisher: This extinguisher works on most solid, liquid fires, and equipment fires. Most versatile for car use!
- BC Fire Extinguisher: If you want to concentrate on liquid flammable materials and electrical fires, this works well too. It is smaller but effective in those situations.
- K Fire Extinguisher: If you cook a lot in your car or have heating tools, get one of these for potential kitchen fires.
The Right Time to Purchase a Fire Extinguisher
When you buy an extinguisher, check the label! Look for the Class A, B, and C letters. These letters tell you what kinds of fires the extinguisher can handle. Where to Keep Your Car Fire Extinguisher: Finding the best spot to store your fire extinguisher can make all the difference. Ideally, you want it to be easy to reach.
Here are a few recommended locations:
- Under the Driver’s Seat: This will put the extinguisher out of sight but in reach when the emergency occurs. Just imagine slumping back and then stretching forward to reach for the extinguisher!
- In the Glove Compartment: You can place it in the glove compartment where it can be reached easily by anyone. But make sure that everyone who rides with you knows where it is located.
- In the trunk: it can stay in the trunk, but maybe you need a few seconds to reach it. If you accept that space, then you need a few seconds to reach it.
- Mounting on the Wall: There are those who attach it for mounting on the side of the driver’s seat or the passenger seat. Ensure it doesn’t fall and it is at a position where you can easily reach it.
How to Use a Car Fire Extinguisher
You get a fire in your car and have to learn how to use the extinguisher properly when you need it. Here’s a quick guide, using the word PASS:
- Pull the pin: This unlocks the extinguisher. You will have to do this first before you can even use it.
- A little low: Point your nozzle to the bottom of your fire. Really important, because this is where fire is building.
- Squeeze your handle: And that’s your extinguishing agent discharged. Pull it tight and you’re gone!
- Side-to-side sweep: Sweep across the area you’ve covered with your nozzle. Pretend you are mowing a lawn.
These steps help fire get doused very rapidly and safely. Keep looking out for the flames, and tell everyone else to start working!
What to Do After a Fire
After the fire is extinguished take a deep breath! What you have just done is pretty great by using the fire extinguisher. Never forget what you are supposed to do next.
- Leave the Car: If the fire has begun or increased in intensity, leave your car. Safety is compromised, and you are to raise an alarm so that everyone else should do the same, too.
- Dial for Help: Dial emergency promptly. There is really no overkill when there is a need for fire emergency services to be called up!
- Check with Your Insurance: Call your insurance company to let them know what happened and to see what they want you to do next. They can help guide the process.
Conclusion
It keeps you even more secure when traveling along the roads by having a car fire extinguisher. Fire is very unpredictable and hazardous, but when you know how to handle things and are properly equipped, then it helps to better manage such a situation a little. The fire extinguisher, of course, is like having a superhero ready to save the day!
Keep and use the right type of fire extinguisher correctly. Well, that’s the PASS method, not very difficult indeed, quite efficient, actually. With a little preparation and knowledge – you’ll be hitting those highways in safety! Next time when you enter any car, keep thinking of carrying that fire extinguisher with you! Keep yourself safe, then enjoy highway rides!
