Fire blankets are one great initiative in protection from fires. These are blankets that are highly flame- resistant and are effective in extinguishing small fires or protecting a person by covering up in case of fires. These are non flammable safety items that are designed to fight temperatures up to 900 °F. These blankets are effective and of help to even those who have little or minimum fire safety knowledge. Fire blankets have a variety of usage some of which are mentioned below:
- Putting out fires
Oxygen is one of the main supplements over which fires thrive on. Therefore, as oxygen is necessary for fires to continue burning, cutting off oxygen supply is one effective way of extinguishing a fire.
To execute this method, fire blankets come in handy as the material of the blanket is made from durable glass fibres that are non flammable. Two strong layers of glass fibers are woven together to make up the fire blankets along with the inner layer consisting of fire retardant film.
These glass fibres cover up fires, efficiently suffocating it. However, the blanket takes a sufficient amount of about 15 minutes, to extinguish fires. Additionally, it has to stay in place until the fire is completely extinguished and the blanket is cool to touch.
Also, while throwing the blanket over the burning object it is crucial to throw it facing away from yourself. While doing so, it is also essential to not harshly throw the blanket and instead try to lay it gently on the source of the fire to avoid any further burning incidents.
- Wrap up body protection.
Fires blankets prove to be effective in wrapping around the human body to provide insulation from fires. In cases of fires, they can be wrapped around the body and they provide protection by minimizing heats and sufficiently reduce chances of burning. The wool is specifically designed and treated to be fire resistant so that it does not catch any fire.
Additionally, fire blankets are also handy in case someone clothes catch fire. In such cases, this blanket can be wrapped around the person while he does the drop and roll (lay down on the floor and roll) this effectively suffocates the fire and protects from severe burn wounds.
Also, while dealing with burning objects, this blanket can come in handy. Users can wrap it around their hands and then touch a burning object to bring it towards safety and extinguishing the fire over it without harming themselves.
As safe this fire blanket is, it however should not be used while entering into a fire area. It is better to restrict its use only while exiting a burning building or to smother cloth fires.
How to use a fire blanket?
Fire blankets come stored in small bags which feature two tabs hanging down from them. To use the blanket all you have to do is pull those tabs down. This releases the blanket from its storage bag allowing it to be used quickly during any emergency.
While placing the blanket over a fire, it is crucial to make sure that you have your hands secured with it to protect from burning. Also, as mentioned above, it is recommended to not throw the blanket, instead lay it gently over the source of the fire.
While doing so, it is better to start nearside of the flames and then further move in. Throwing the blanket on the fire from the far side is generally considered to be a bad idea as it can cause the fires to creep over the blanket and evidently worsen the situation.
After throwing the blanket on fire source it is recommended to leave it on the fire source for about 15 minutes to fully combust it. Additionally, it’s best not to touch the blanket until and unless it has not completely cooled down.
Taking care of the fire blanket
So that it is easily reachable in cases of emergency, it is best to store a fire blanket in a quick release container and store it at a place which is easy to reach. As most fires occur in kitchens, it is best to store these fire blankets in there so that there is easy access.
Also, once the blanket has been used once, it is crucial to dispose of it. These blankets are not designed for reuse. Therefore, storing to further use it in the future in cases of emergency can be dangerous.
Once you have used the fire blanket, wait till it cools off to room temperature and dispose of it. As a precautionary act, dousing the blanket with fire before disposing can help ensure it is safe to touch.
Importance of fire blankets
Fire blankets are extremely handy therefore, it is best to have them in homes, restaurants or offices at all times. They ensure safety and protection from fires and allow efficient and neat way to deal with fire emergencies.