Gustaf Erik Pasch is the inventor of the modern safety match. His invention was improved upon by John Edvard Lundström, another Swede. The most important adaptation of previous types of matches was the exchange of the dangerous, and deadly, white phosphorous with red phosphorous.
Fire extinguishers are an important measure against fighting small fires and an essential addition to any home or building. As they contain only a limited amount of fuel they should not be employed against large fires.
Fires are categorised according to the fuel that created the fire. This is important to know because when fighting fires different methods are applied to different classes of fire. As an effective method for one can actually make the situation worse for another kind.
Class A | Class B | Class C |
Water, Foam, Dry Chemical, Water Mist | Foam, Carbon Dioxide, Dry Chemical, Clean Agent | Carbon Dioxide, Dry Chemical, Clean Agent |
These are important fire fighting rules to remember when a fire breaks out.
Activate a fire alarm if the building has one or call the local fire department. Assist any people who are in direct danger of the fire or cannot escape it themselves, as long as this does not place you in any more danger than you are already in. Attempt to extinguish the fire, but only if it is small, contained, you are safe from smoke, there is an easy unblocked escape route.
Remember that if it doesn’t feel right to fight the fire yourself or you don’t feel safe to do so, DON’T. It is best to leave fire fighting to firefighters.
PASS is an acronym for the correct method of handling an extinguisher when using it against a fire.
Body Part | Surface Area |
Head | 9% |
Anterior Torso (Front) |
18% |
Posterior Torso (Back) |
18% |
Each Leg | 18% |
Each Arm | 9% |
Genitalia/perineum | 1% |