Could you use a fire extinguisher?
Most of us have seen one on the wall, but few have ever pulled the pin. A small fire, a few seconds of spray, and four steps to get right. Try it here first.
P.A.S.S. in four words
Fire services teach the same four steps. Stand about 2 to 3 metres away, with your back to a way out.
Pull out the pin. It breaks a small seal that stops the handle being squeezed by accident.
Aim low, at the base of the fire, where the fuel is burning. Spraying the tips of the flames does very little.
Squeeze the handle slowly and evenly. Let go to stop. The contents run out fast, so don't waste them.
Sweep the nozzle from side to side across the base until the fire looks out. Then back away and keep watching it.
Which extinguisher for which fire?
The wrong type can make a fire worse. Read the label: it shows which fires it is made for.
Good for everyday solid materials. Never use it on cooking oil or on anything electrical.
Works on wood and paper and on liquids like petrol. Not for cooking oil or electrics.
Leaves no mess on devices. The horn gets very cold, so hold the handle, not the horn. The gas clears quickly, so the fire can flare up again.
The common type for homes and cars. It covers solids, liquids and gas. The powder cloud makes it hard to see and breathe in a small room.
Made for deep-fat fryer and pan fires. For a small pan fire, turn off the heat and cover it with a lid or fire blanket if you safely can. Never pour water on it.
Keep a small ABC extinguisher where you can reach it, a fire blanket in the kitchen, and smoke alarms that work. Check the gauge is in the green. Hassantuk is the UAE's smart home fire alarm programme linked to Civil Defence.
Sources: NFPA (US National Fire Protection Association) safety tips on fire extinguishers; OSHA guidance on portable extinguishers and the P.A.S.S. method; Clark County Fire Department, Nevada ("many discharge within 8 to 10 seconds", stand 6 to 8 feet away with your back to an exit); London Fire Brigade guidance on extinguisher types; UAE Civil Defence (emergency number 997) and the UAE Ministry of Interior's Hassantuk programme. How long an extinguisher lasts depends on its size and model, so check the label of yours. The game is a simplified illustration, not real training. A hands-on course with a real extinguisher is the best way to learn. In the UAE, call 997 for fire.