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How to Extinguish Fires on your Body

Have you ever hear of the phrase "Stop, Drop, and Roll"? 
This method of rolling on the floor to extinguish flames on your body is actually effective for most fires.

Although your initial reaction when your body gets caught on fire may be to run to grab a fire extinguisher (or simply panic), flames can actually travel across your body in seconds. 
By the time you have began running towards a fire extinguisher or for help, it may be too late.

image source: Arizona Firewise

So, why Stop, Drop, and Roll?
If you've ever wondered why we should do that instead of grabbing for a fire extinguisher,
Here are 3 reasons why Stop Drop, and Roll is quite effective:

1) Remember the Fire Triangle that I posted a few weeks ago, and that fire needed oxygen to burn on? You must Stop because if you are running when your body is on fire, that running motion will only give the fire more oxygen (making the fire bigger).

2) Dropping down to the floor in a horizontal position changes the direction of
 the fire. Fire burns up vertically, which means that it is likely to head for your lungs or your face, which are the most sensitive parts of your body. But if you lie down horizontally, you have twisted the direction of the fire so that it will be slower to reach your face or lungs.

3) Rolling is using the same principle of the Fire Triangle (that fire needs oxygen to burn on). By squishing the fire with your body through the rolling motion, you prevent the fire from feeding unto more oxygen in the air. Thus, the rolling motion allows your to put out the fire effectively.

The Stop, Drop, and Roll method is quite effective both when you are alone, or when you cannot get immediate help from a third party to extinguish the fire.

(Extra)
Thank you everyone for keeping up with my posts these past 3 months. Next week, I will conclude Your Emergency Preparedness Journal with a conclusion!

Get ready. Now.

Your Emergency Preparedness