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BASIC SAFETY EQUIPMENT & PROCEDURES
1. Large towel or safety blanket. If your hair or clothes catch on fire, use the towel/blanket to smother the flames. Use prewashed 100% cotton: artificial fibers will melt and may contaminate burns, and new cotton is full of flamable lint. Commercial kitchen suppliers carry fireproof blankets designed specifically to put out fires.
2. Small fire extinguisher. If anything else catches fire, or if the towel isn't big enough to cover the flame, use the fire extinguisher. Never aim at or near anyone's face. Co2 extinguishers may freeze the skin. Dry powder extinguishers can contain anything from baking soda to very esoteric compounds, so send the extinguisher with the burn victim so the doctors will know how to treat the burns. Make sure the emergency service people know why the extinguisher is there .
3. Someone who knows how to use the towel and extinguisher. When you are in the middle of a FireHack it is easy to forget or ignore safety procedures. When you've kicked over the fuel bottle and your shoes are on fire, or you are panicked because of intense pain, you need someone who knows what to do and won't hurt you more than the fire. Always have a friend or spotter that knows what to do!
4. Metal or plastic fuel bottle with attached cap. The more fuel you carry with you, the greater the risk of unexpected fire or explosion. Also, a large fuel can that is almost empty can be as dangerous as a small bomb. So carry only as much fuel with you as you need for your FireHack. Glass containers can break and scatter fuel. Even if glass containers are closed, if they come in contact with flame for more than a few seconds they can explode.
Wide-mouth plastic sports bottles holding no more than a quart/liter of liquid are popular, but should be checked regularly for cracks and leaks. They should be strong enough to withstand being stepped on without bursting or blowing off the cap.
Metal screw-top fuel bottles are the safest, but because the mouth of most fuel bottles is small you'll also need a bowl or cup to hold fuel for dipping your FireHacks. Wide-mouth all-metal thermos bottles are excellent though expensive, and come with a cup.
5. Fireproof clothing. Fireproof clothing is hard to find. Sometimes a fireman's used Nomex or Kevlar approach suit, or a racing driver's old suit is available for a few bucks. New, they cost over $1,000. The next safest clothing is leather, pure wool, untreated 100% cotton, and your own skin, in about that order. Plastics and artificial fibers are very dangerous because they catch fire or melt quickly, and will mix with burning flesh so that healing is more difficult. Cotton, leather, and wool can eventually be absorbed as your body heals. Skin, especially after you work up a bit of sweat, is not very flammable, but it can be scorched and singed. Rayon, nylon, dacron, etc. go up in flames almost instantly. Jeans and a t-shirt (100% cotton) are quite common fire garb and are relatively safe. Loose clothing is more likely to get in the way than clothing that fits well. If your hair is long, tie it back. It's a good idea to wear a hat or beanie so that a mis-hit doesn't light your hair on fire. Do not use hair products or cologne before FireHacking.
If you spill fuel on your clothing you must change clothes before lighting up. Even after carefully blotting up spills, your clothing will retain enough fuel to act exactly like a torch. Blotting up spills on clothing may save you from a skin rash, but not from fire.
6. Matches and cigarette lighters. Book matches and cigarette lighters are standard equipment. But don't put that lighter in your pocket after lighting up. If your pants catch fire the lighter may explode. There are a number of one-legged ex-firemen who can testify to this. This applies to both butane and zippo-type lighters. Any time a lighter is enveloped in flame it can explode.
7. Travel light. Carry only as much fuel with you as you plan to use, and never keep it in the passenger compartment of a vehicle: in an accident it will spray over everything. For long trips, don't take fuel with you: buy it when you get there. Public transportation such as planes, busses, and trains have strict rules regarding fuel -- find out what they are and follow them.
1. Large towel or safety blanket. If your hair or clothes catch on fire, use the towel/blanket to smother the flames. Use prewashed 100% cotton: artificial fibers will melt and may contaminate burns, and new cotton is full of flamable lint. Commercial kitchen suppliers carry fireproof blankets designed specifically to put out fires.
2. Small fire extinguisher. If anything else catches fire, or if the towel isn't big enough to cover the flame, use the fire extinguisher. Never aim at or near anyone's face. Co2 extinguishers may freeze the skin. Dry powder extinguishers can contain anything from baking soda to very esoteric compounds, so send the extinguisher with the burn victim so the doctors will know how to treat the burns. Make sure the emergency service people know why the extinguisher is there .
3. Someone who knows how to use the towel and extinguisher. When you are in the middle of a FireHack it is easy to forget or ignore safety procedures. When you've kicked over the fuel bottle and your shoes are on fire, or you are panicked because of intense pain, you need someone who knows what to do and won't hurt you more than the fire. Always have a friend or spotter that knows what to do!
4. Metal or plastic fuel bottle with attached cap. The more fuel you carry with you, the greater the risk of unexpected fire or explosion. Also, a large fuel can that is almost empty can be as dangerous as a small bomb. So carry only as much fuel with you as you need for your FireHack. Glass containers can break and scatter fuel. Even if glass containers are closed, if they come in contact with flame for more than a few seconds they can explode.
Wide-mouth plastic sports bottles holding no more than a quart/liter of liquid are popular, but should be checked regularly for cracks and leaks. They should be strong enough to withstand being stepped on without bursting or blowing off the cap.
Metal screw-top fuel bottles are the safest, but because the mouth of most fuel bottles is small you'll also need a bowl or cup to hold fuel for dipping your FireHacks. Wide-mouth all-metal thermos bottles are excellent though expensive, and come with a cup.
5. Fireproof clothing. Fireproof clothing is hard to find. Sometimes a fireman's used Nomex or Kevlar approach suit, or a racing driver's old suit is available for a few bucks. New, they cost over $1,000. The next safest clothing is leather, pure wool, untreated 100% cotton, and your own skin, in about that order. Plastics and artificial fibers are very dangerous because they catch fire or melt quickly, and will mix with burning flesh so that healing is more difficult. Cotton, leather, and wool can eventually be absorbed as your body heals. Skin, especially after you work up a bit of sweat, is not very flammable, but it can be scorched and singed. Rayon, nylon, dacron, etc. go up in flames almost instantly. Jeans and a t-shirt (100% cotton) are quite common fire garb and are relatively safe. Loose clothing is more likely to get in the way than clothing that fits well. If your hair is long, tie it back. It's a good idea to wear a hat or beanie so that a mis-hit doesn't light your hair on fire. Do not use hair products or cologne before FireHacking.
If you spill fuel on your clothing you must change clothes before lighting up. Even after carefully blotting up spills, your clothing will retain enough fuel to act exactly like a torch. Blotting up spills on clothing may save you from a skin rash, but not from fire.
6. Matches and cigarette lighters. Book matches and cigarette lighters are standard equipment. But don't put that lighter in your pocket after lighting up. If your pants catch fire the lighter may explode. There are a number of one-legged ex-firemen who can testify to this. This applies to both butane and zippo-type lighters. Any time a lighter is enveloped in flame it can explode.
7. Travel light. Carry only as much fuel with you as you plan to use, and never keep it in the passenger compartment of a vehicle: in an accident it will spray over everything. For long trips, don't take fuel with you: buy it when you get there. Public transportation such as planes, busses, and trains have strict rules regarding fuel -- find out what they are and follow them.
©1999
- 2001 FireHack Ventures Co.Ltd. unless otherwise stated.