Fire Blankets: What are they and how do you use them?
Put simply, a fire blanket is a simple fire safety appliance that is designed to tackle small contained fires usually found in a kitchen. A traditional fire blanket is made from a sheet of woven fire-resistant material and is stored in a wall-mounted container. These blankets can withstand temperatures of up to 900 degrees Celsius.
How Do Fire Blankets Work?
A fire blanket is used to smother flames and starve the fire of oxygen. They can extinguish the fire before it gets out of control. You’ll usually find them installed in kitchens, however, they can also be found in educational, residential and industrial settings.
By grabbing and pulling the handles, the blanket falls from the wall container and covers an operator’s hands, protecting them from burns. They can be safely deployed without any special training in the event of a fire, however, potential users should familiarise themselves with the instructions on the container beforehand to ensure they remain safe.
How do you use Fire Blankets?
There are different processes and techniques to use depending on the nature of the fire.
- The first step is to turn off the heat source if it is possible and safe to do so.
- Pull the tapes to release the fire blanket from its box.
- Hold the blanket in a shield position and wrap the blanket around your hands for protection if possible.
- Smother the blaze by placing the fire blanket over the fire
- Leave it to cool completely and ensure the fire is fully extinguished and there is no chance of it reigniting
However, if the flames are larger than the blanket itself, please do not attempt to put it out yourself - find safety and contact the fire department.
Additional Uses For A Fire Blanket
In addition to extinguishing small liquid and solid fires, a fire blanket may be used on a person whose clothing has ignited.
By placing them on the ground and wrapping them in the blanket, you cut off the fire’s oxygen source which diminishes the flames. Placing the individual in a horizontal position also prevents the flames from reaching the victim’s face and hair - which often proves a far safer and practical alternative to using a fire extinguisher.
If you would like fire training, visit the fire training section of our website here, alternatively, you can contact us today. To learn more about how to keep yourself and your employees safe, head to the blog section of our website to browse our full list of articles.
