How Dangerous Is Fire Extinguisher Powder?

Views: 11     Author: Site Editor     Publish Time: 2023-02-28      Origin: Site

Fire extinguishers have become a common feature. Whether you’re walking into a public building, a private enterprise, or even using major means of transport, you are likely to see a few fire extinguishers. At home, there’s also a chance you have a fire extinguisher in case of emergencies.

Most people think of fire extinguishers as very safe. Generally, that is the case. For instance, fire extinguisher powder is considered safe to use. This type of fire retardant is common in homes, schools, and other common areas.

The chemicals and related elements used to manufacture fire extinguisher powder are considered nontoxic. Nonetheless, they may cause harm if improperly handled. As such, it’s essential to understand how to handle these chemicals safely.

Understanding how to handle and interact with fire extinguisher powder will significantly reduce the chances of an accident happening. Additionally, in the case of a fire, these tips will guide you to efficiently put it out.


Dangers associated with fire extinguisher powder

In the event of a fire, a fire extinguisher is likely to be used to contain the blaze. After successfully putting out the fire, you will be left with fire extinguisher residue. Properly cleaning this residue will eliminate the chance of contamination and other related risks.

Most fire extinguishers use ammonium sulfate or ammonium phosphate. Unfortunately, these elements are not permitted in the water table. Essentially, this means you have to clean the powder and residue left after a fire.

These aforementioned elements may slightly irritate your skin. When cleaning fire extinguisher powder, you should wear protective gloves and a dust mask. The gloves protect your skin, while the dust mask prevents inhalation.


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Fire extinguisher powder consumption

As formerly mentioned, fire extinguisher powder is not a toxic compound. However, this does not mean that you should ingest the powder. In case of accidental consumption, the compound may have a slight reaction.

It is noteworthy to mention that you need to ingest quite a substantial amount for an adverse reaction. Most accounts of small consumption rarely report side effect cases. Some of the effects associated with consuming fire extinguisher powder include the following;

• Sore throat

• Redness and discomfort in the throat and tongue

• Upset stomach

Thoroughly rinse off dishes and food that may have come into contact with the fire extinguisher powder. While consuming meager amounts of the residue is unlikely to cause harm, you can seek professional intervention if you have any concerns.

Fire extinguisher powder inhalation

Inhaling fire extinguisher powder is one of the severe dangers related to fire extinguishers. Inhalation of these compounds may cause mucosal irritation. While more serious cases are rare, excess inhalation of fire extinguisher powder can lead to some serious breathing complications.

The elements used in the production of fire extinguishers are not very conducive to your breathing system. Excess inhalation can leave your lungs coated with the elements. In turn, this can lead to short breaths and other related complications.

Generally, it is rare to encounter a case of excess inhalation of fire extinguisher powder. However, should you be in a situation where you inhale a lot of powder or residue, you should seek emergency medical services.


How to properly handle fire extinguishers

The best way to avoid any of the risk cases mentioned above is to learn how to properly use fire extinguishers. Learning how to use a fire extinguisher is a rather easy and straightforward endeavor. However, it could help save your life and those of others.

Below is an easy and simple guide to safely using fire extinguishers;

• Identify where the fire extinguisher is and safely retrieve it

• Pull the pin to break the seal. Squeeze the lever, and the fire extinguisher will discharge the retardant.

• Safely exit the room when the fire is safely extinguished and get help.

It is important to note that you should only use a fire extinguisher to handle small fires. If the blaze looks like it could get out of control, you should warn anyone in the vicinity and get help as quickly as possible.

Ultimately, a fire extinguisher is a valuable asset to have in your home, office, vehicle, and other space. In most of these places, it is mandated to have a functional fire extinguisher. Invest in a quality fire extinguisher today and be prepared for any scenario.