Fire Safety and First Aid
Fire safety
- Fire needs fuel, oxygen and heat. Prevention removes one side of the triangle: control flammable materials, ignition sources and oxygen-rich conditions.
- Fire risk reduction includes safe storage, housekeeping, electrical maintenance, means of escape, detection, alarms, extinguishers and drills.
- Extinguishers must match the fire class: water for ordinary combustibles, foam for flammable liquids, CO2 for electrical equipment, and dry powder for mixed risks. Wrong choice can spread fire or cause shock.
- Escape routes and exits must remain unobstructed and unlocked from the inside.
First aid
- Provide adequate first-aid kits, trained first-aiders and clear access during all shifts. Kits must be stocked, checked and protected from contamination.
- First aid is immediate care, not diagnosis. Serious cases need referral and recording.
Worked example
A small electrical fire starts in an office printer. Staff isolate power, raise the alarm, evacuate and use a CO2 extinguisher only if trained and safe. Water is not used because of electrical shock risk. The incident is recorded and the printer is inspected.
Traps that cost marks
Using water on electrical or flammable-liquid fires; expired extinguishers; locked first-aid boxes; no trained first-aider on shift; blocked exits.
Exam focus
Match extinguisher to fire class, keep escape routes clear, and check first-aid staffing, stock and records.