Category Safety

Fire & Fire Classification

by Faisal Javaid Safety

What is Fire?

Fire is defined as:

“A chemical reaction in which any fuel combines chemically with oxygen and gives out heat, and smoke.”

To start fire, these three elements must be present. The fire triangle was subsequently changed to a fire tetrahedron (also referred to as fire diamond, pyramid, or combustion triangle) to reflect the fourth element.

Elements of Fire

1.Fuel

Fire cannot start if there isn’t any material available to burn. Businesses and homes alike are full of flammable materials including fabrics, wood, oil, and paper. Any of these materials can serve as fuel for a fire.
Some of the materials burn more easily compared to others. Fuel is probably the hardest ‘side’ of the fire triangle you can remove, so it is advisable to ensure that they are appropriately stored so that they don’t become a fire hazard. Common examples are gasoline, wood, paper, natural gas etc.

Common Sources of Fuel around us:

  1. Liquid: Gasoline, Paints, Chemicals
  2. Solid: Wood, Paper, Trash, Plastic, Rubber etc.
  3. GAS: Natural Gas, LPG cylinders

2.Oxygen

The air we breathe has about 21% oxygen. Fire needs only 16% oxygen. Oxygen is needed to sustain the combustion reaction since it reacts with the burning fuel to release carbon dioxide and heat.
Some fire extinguishers and fire blankets remove the oxygen ‘side’ of the triangle by displacing or removing it thus causing suffocation and ceasing the combustion reaction.

Common sources of Oxygen around us

  1. Oxygen in atmosphere
  2. Oxygen supplies such as cylinders, piped supply etc
  3. Chemicals (Oxidizing agents)

3.Heat/Ignition Source

Any matchstick, hot surface, burning cigarettes, naked flame etc. A heat source is necessary for ignition to occur and different materials have different ‘flash points or the lowest temperatures at which they can ignite. Combustion reactions, however, also produce heat as they burn, which further increases the fuels’ temperature. The heat may be cooled by applying water, but this is only possible for some types of fire.

Common sources of Ignition around us

  1. Naked flame & burning cigarettes/lighters
  2. Fixed or portable heaters
  3. Stoves for cooking
  4. Electric equipment
  5. Hot processes e.g., welding

Types/classification of fire

Type of fire is determined by the type of Fuel:

Compatibility of Fire Extinguishers

Extinguishing Theory

Removing Heat, Removing Fuel, Reducing Oxygen will Inhibit Chemical Chain Reaction.

Basic First Aid Awareness

by Faisal Javaid Safety

What is First Aid?

First aid is the first and immediate assistance or treatment given to a person for any injury or sudden illness before the arrival of an ambulance or qualified medical expert. The purpose of First Aid is to preserve life, prevent the condition from worsening and promote recovery of the injured.

Why First Aid is Important?

There is no denying that accidents can happen anytime around us whether we are at home or at workplace. Some of these accidents can be life-threatening and there can be situations when you are the only person available with the injured. In this case, basic first aid can help a lot in saving the injured person life. For example, timely control of bleeding from a wound or a splint tied to a broken bone can prevent the condition from getting worse. However in some cases, first aid may include performing complex cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) which should only be performed after getting proper training.

Initial Steps before First Aid

In order to ensure effective first aid provision to injured person and for your own safety, following are three steps which should be followed in sequence before starting first aid treatment:

1.Protect Yourself & Victim

The first step is to protect yourself and the injured person from the surround hazards which could be the cause of injury. For example turning off the electricity of the energized equipment.

2.Examine the Victim

The next step is to look for injuries, external bleeding, responsiveness, breathing and pulse. This is essential in assessing the severity of the injury and which type of first aid to be given.

3.Alert & Call for Help

Once you have examined the injured person then call for assistance or emergency medical services rapidly. Try to provide them as much information as you have regarding the injured person and location of the accident.