How to Choose a Fire Extinguisher for your Home

Below are minimum recommendations for the home from the National Fire Protection Association.
Multipurpose Fire Extinguishers:

  View  an interactive guide on how to choose a fire extinguisher

Remember the PASS Word

Stand 6 to 8 feet away from the fire and follow the four-step PASS procedure recommended by National Fire Protection Association:

P - Pull the pin and hold the extinguisher with the nozzle pointing away from you.
A - Aim low at the base of the fire.
S - Squeeze the lever slowly and evenly to discharge the extinguishing agent. (When the agent first hits the fire, the fire    may briefly flare up. This should be expected.)
S - Sweep the nozzle from side to side, moving carefully toward the fire. Keep the extinguisher aimed at the base of the fire.

Use Safely 

Fire extinguishers are only one element of a complete fire survival plan.

Only use your extinguisher after making sure:

	All residents of the home have been evacuated to safety
	The fire department has been notified
	There is a clear exit behind the person using the extinguisher

And:

	Respect all fires, regardless of size. Fire extinguishers are one part of a fire response plan. The main objective is safe escape.
	Replace your fire extinguishers every 12 years.

Use your extinguisher only to keep a small self-contained fire from growing, only when the room is not filled with smoke, or to create a safe pathway out of the home. Read the instructions and become familiar with your fire extinguisher's parts and operation before a fire breaks out.

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