Fires that start in homes have the potential to cause significant damage to both property and life. According to the National Fire Protection Association, fire departments responded to an estimated 385,000 residential fires between 2011 and 2015 in the U.S., resulting in 2,510 fatalities and 12,300 injuries each year.
The NFPA reports that seven people in the U.S. die in house fires every day. Because of the risks of fires, it is important for people to implement fire safety measures. People should practice with their families for what to do if a fire breaks out, and they should also make certain that they have fire blankets in their homes so that they can quickly put out small fires when they break out. Click here for the Top 10 Best Fire Blankets.
So What Are Fire Blankets
Fire blankets are fire safety aids that are flame retardant and can be used to smother fires. They may be made from several different substances that resist fires. In homes, fire blankets are often made out of fiberglass or kevlar.
Fire blankets that are used in industrial settings are often made from treated wool. They normally include two outer layers of fiberglass, wool or kevlar with a film that is fire retardant in between. These blankets are often stored in quick-release containers so that people can grab them when fires start.
How do They work
In order to grow and spread, fires need to have heat, fuel and an oxidizing agent such as oxygen. Fire blankets that are thrown on incipient fires help to put the fires out by cutting off the oxygen that feeds them. To completely smother a fire, it is important that the fire blanket is placed over it in the correct manner. Ideally, the blanket should be placed in such a way that it completely covers the fire to put it out. Fire blankets are also excellent to use when people have clothing that begins to catch fire. The blankets can be wrapped around the person to put out the flames. Finally, if people need to escape a home with a larger fire, they can wrap themselves in the fire blankets to minimize the potential burns and heat as they exit their homes.
Do They replace fire extinguishers
Fire blankets are not a replacement for fire extinguishers, but they complement them. The blankets may be much simpler for people who are unfamiliar with fire extinguishers to use correctly. Water fire extinguishers should also never be used on fires that are feeding on flammable liquids such as gasoline or oil or on electrical fires. When water is sprayed on a flammable liquid fire, the burning liquid may splatter out and spread the fire. Electrical fires that are sprayed with water from a fire extinguisher may electrocute people because the water conducts electricity.
Fire blankets can be used to smother both flammable liquid and electrical fires. For this reason, it is a good idea for people to keep fire blankets in their kitchens instead of fire extinguishers because of the potential for grease and electrical fires around the stove and oven. Fire extinguishers may be placed elsewhere in the home for additional protection.
Why homeowners need fire blankets
Fire blankets are one of several pieces of important fire safety equipment. These blankets are good for homeowners to have in their homes because they are easy to use and can quickly smother fires before they grow and spread. Using fire blankets correctly requires almost no training, and they can be used to put out many different types of fires. Fire blankets also can be used to keep people safer from burns when they are trying to get out of homes that have major fires. Family members can wrap themselves up in the blankets so that they can get out with fewer burns and injuries caused by heat exposure. In addition to fire blankets and extinguishers, people should also have smoke detectors installed throughout their homes.
Proper Fire Blanket Use
Fire blankets come in quick-release PVC containers with pull-down straps on the bottom. When a fire starts, people should pull down on the straps, which will release the fire blankets. They should then take the blanket and place it over the fire to completely cover it. It is important for people to make sure to protect their hands from the flames while they are placing the blankets over the fire. The blankets should be kept in place over the fire for approximately 15 minutes, and people should turn off any source of heat that is feeding the fire such as the stove or oven.
If people’s clothing catches fire, they can grab the fire blanket and enwrap themselves to smother the flames. Others who are nearby when a person’s clothing catches fire can likewise wrap the person in a fire blanket. In a major fire, people can completely cover their bodies with fire blankets so that they can safely exit their homes.
Placement and storage
Fire blankets should be placed in the kitchen near the stove and oven. If a cooking fire starts, then a fire blanket that is placed nearby can be quickly accessed and used. It is also a good idea to have a fire blanket in the garage. Garage fires are the second most common behind fires that start in the kitchen. Finally, people should consider installing fire blankets nears the exits of each room so that people who might be trapped by a major fire can wrap themselves in the blankets and get out of the house. The containers that the blankets come in can be anchored to the wall so that they are out of the way and easily accessible.
What to look for when buying
When people are looking for fire blankets to purchase, it is important that they understand what to look for. The blankets should be certified to ASTM F1989-05 standards for cooking fires at a minimum in the U.S. In the U.K., people should look for fire blankets that have Kitemark certifications. In the E.U., people should look for fire blankets with the CE mark. All of these certifications indicate that the blankets have been tested and comply with the required standards. People should also look to make certain that the blankets that they are considering are certified to BS EN 1869:1997 standards.
People should also look for fire blankets that are made out of fiberglass fabric or kevlar fabric for home use. Fire blankets are available in several sizes. Smaller fire blankets are okay for extinguishing fires that happen in waste bins and other contained areas. For people who want fire blankets that are large enough to put out fires on adults’ clothing, they should choose the largest fire blankets that are available. The blankets range in size from 1.1 x 1.1 meters up to 1.8 x 1.8 meters.
Because of the global economy, it is easy for people to purchase fire blankets online from manufacturers that are located overseas. It is important for consumers to make certain that they are dealing with reputable companies and that the blankets are certified and have been tested.
Summary
For fire safety, homeowners should make certain that their families are prepared in case a fire ever breaks out in their homes. In addition to practicing emergency exits from homes, they should also make certain that they have proper fire safety equipment in their homes, including fire blankets. Fire blankets can help to smother a fire before it has a chance to grow and spread.
They leave much less mess than fire extinguishers and are easy for anyone to use. Fire blankets may also help to prevent substantial property damage and burn injuries when fires start.
Fire Blankets on Amazon
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