Health: How to Operate a Fire Extinguisher (PASS) Practice
Practice the PASS steps for safe fire extinguisher use
Health: How to Operate a Fire Extinguisher (PASS) Practice
Practice the PASS steps for safe fire extinguisher use
Health - Grade 6-8
- 1
Write out what each letter in PASS stands for when using a fire extinguisher.
Think of the four actions in the order you would do them.
PASS stands for Pull the pin, Aim at the base of the fire, Squeeze the handle, and Sweep from side to side. - 2
A small trash can fire starts in a classroom. The teacher has already told students to leave and has called for help. The extinguisher is nearby, and there is a clear path to the door. Is this a situation where a trained adult might use a fire extinguisher? Explain.
Yes, a trained adult might use a fire extinguisher because the fire is small, help has been called, and there is a clear exit path. Students should follow directions and leave the area. - 3
In the PASS method, why do you aim at the base of the fire instead of the flames?
The flames are above the part that is actually burning.
You aim at the base of the fire because that is where the fuel is burning. Spraying the base helps put out the source of the fire. - 4
Put the PASS steps in the correct order: Sweep from side to side, Squeeze the handle, Pull the pin, Aim at the base of the fire.
The correct order is Pull the pin, Aim at the base of the fire, Squeeze the handle, and Sweep from side to side. - 5
A student sees a fire spreading across a lab table and smoke filling the room. The exit is partly blocked by smoke. Should the student try to use a fire extinguisher? Explain the safest action.
A fire extinguisher is only for small fires when you have a safe exit.
No, the student should not try to use a fire extinguisher. The safest action is to move away from the smoke if possible, alert others, evacuate by a safe route, and call emergency help. - 6
Look at the fire extinguisher diagram. Identify the pin, handle, nozzle or hose, and pressure gauge.
The pin is the safety piece near the handle, the handle is squeezed to release the extinguishing agent, the nozzle or hose directs the spray, and the pressure gauge shows whether the extinguisher is charged. - 7
What should you do before using a fire extinguisher if you discover a small fire?
Using the extinguisher is not the first safety step.
Before using a fire extinguisher, you should alert others, make sure an adult or emergency help is being contacted, check that the fire is small, and keep a clear exit behind you. - 8
During the Sweep step, how should the nozzle move?
During the Sweep step, the nozzle should move from side to side across the base of the fire until the fire is out. - 9
A fire extinguisher has a pressure gauge with the needle in the red low-pressure area. What does that mean, and should it be used in an emergency drill?
The gauge helps show whether the extinguisher is ready to use.
A needle in the red low-pressure area means the extinguisher may not work properly. It should not be used in a drill, and an adult should report it so it can be serviced or replaced. - 10
Explain why it is important to keep an exit behind you when using a fire extinguisher.
It is important to keep an exit behind you because fire and smoke can spread quickly. A clear exit lets you leave immediately if the fire grows or the extinguisher does not work. - 11
Choose the safest statement and explain why: A. Use an extinguisher on any fire if one is nearby. B. Use an extinguisher only on a small fire when you are trained, help has been called, and you have a clear escape route.
A fire extinguisher is a safety tool, but it does not replace evacuation.
Statement B is safest because fire extinguishers are only for small, manageable fires. Training, emergency help, and a clear escape route reduce the risk of injury. - 12
Draw or describe a safe PASS setup: where the person stands, where the extinguisher points, and where the exit is located.
A safe PASS setup has the person standing a safe distance from a small fire, aiming the extinguisher at the base of the fire, and keeping a clear exit behind them.