Many homes and businesses have fire blankets, which are an effective form of fire protection to put out small fires on surfaces or people that could become much larger.
However, as commonplace as they are, not everyone knows how to use one. The following information could be helpful if you ever find yourself in a situation that requires their use.
How to Use a Fire Blanket
Before we explain how to use a fire blanket, it’s essential to understand that not every situation will call for their use. For example, if you believe a fire is too large for you or a fire blanket to tackle, remove yourself from the area immediately.
Call emergency services, and allow them to handle the blaze.
However, if a fire is small enough to put out yourself, you can carry out the following steps.
- If the fire occurs in a kitchen at the heat source, turn the heat off if it is safe to do so.
- Locate the tabs on the bottom of the fire blanket and pull them at the same time. This action will remove the blanket from its sleeve.
- Carefully fold the blanket over your hands to protect them.
- Place the blanket on top of the flames gently. Refrain from throwing it as the oxygen from your fast movement can feed the fire, leading to it becoming quickly out of control.
- When you place the blanket down, use the closest edge to cover it first so that you can prevent it from traveling up the blanket and burning your hands.
- Leave the blanket in place for around half an hour to ensure the flames have been adequately suffocated.
- Call emergency services for the fire department to visit your property. They can assess the site of the fire to make sure it’s completely out.
Using a Fire Blanket On A Person
Even though fire blankets are suitable for use on heat sources to put out flames, you can also use them on people who are on fire. Follow these steps below for using a fire blanket on a person.
- Pull the fire blanket tabs at the same time to release the blanket from its sleeve.
- As you would do for the previous fire type mentioned above, fold the blankets over your hands to protect them. Except, this time, you will also be wrapping it around the person on fire.
- Roll the blanket around the person until you’ve covered the entire fire.
- Tell the person to drop to the ground and roll.
- Call emergency services for the fire department and an ambulance to provide medical treatment.
How to Maintain a Fire Blanket
A fire blanket is hopefully something you will never have to use. However, this means that it’s easy to neglect it as it sits in a corner gathering dust.
Make sure you have a professional visit your premises to carry out checks and maintenance.
They will remove the blanket from its sleeve, check for damage, run through an inspection checklist, then place it back in the sleeve.
Such tests can give you much-needed peace of mind that the blanket will be more likely to be fit for use if you should ever need it.
Fire blankets can be helpful fire protection tools in kitchens and other areas of homes and businesses. If you are unsure how to use or maintain one, now might be the time to learn.