Tip of the month archives

October is National Fire Prevention Month. Below is some information and a few tips you can use both at work and at your home.

Elements Of Fire

Fire is a chemical reaction involving rapid oxidation or burning of a fuel. It needs four elements to occur:

	Fuel
	Oxygen
	Heat
	Chemical reaction

Take away any one of these factors, and the fire cannot exist!

Classes Of Fire

Fires are classified according to the types of objects being burned:

	Class A – ordinary combustibles such as wood, paper, cloth, rubber or certain types of plastic
	Class B – flammable or combustible gases and liquids such as gasoline, kerosene, paint, paint thinners or propane
	Class C – energized electrical equipment such as appliances, switches or power tools
	Class D – certain combustible metals such as magnesium, titanium, potassium or sodium.

Fire Extinguishers

The faceplate of every fire extinguisher shows the class or classes of fire it is designed to fight. To properly use a fire extinguisher, follow the P-A-S-S procedure:

P Pull the pin
A Aim the extinguisher’s hose or nozzle
at the bottom of the fire
S Squeeze the trigger
S Sweep it slowly back and forth, covering
the entire fire with the extinguishing
substance.

Do NOT attempt to use a fire extinguisher unless you have been trained to do so 

What To Do If Fire Occurs

Prepare yourself in advance! Take a moment to review Lifescan's Emergency Action Plan. It includes:

	How to notify the fire department
	Detailed evacuation plans NOTE: Do NOT use the elevators
	Designated employees in charge of evacuation.

In Case of Emergency

Dial 3888 from any on-campus phone. Tell the Security Operations Center personnel where you are and what the emergency is. They will call 911 and ensure that Security and Milpitas Emergency Services are directed to the proper location.

Change Your Smoke Detector Battery

Finally, many fire departments encourage people to change the battery in the smoke detector when they change their clocks, because it can be so easy to forget otherwise. A working smoke detector more than doubles a person's chances of surviving a home fire. More than 90 percent of homes in the United States have smoke detectors, but one-third are estimated to have worn-out or missing batteries.

Tip of the month archives

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