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August 31, 2019 by Total Fire and Safety
Once again active shooting in public places is making headlines and making us consider our self defense options wherever we go. Unfortunately, our safety can be threatened almost anywhere, and self-defense is important. In your workplace or the facilities you manage, it’s important for the people inside to know how to react in the event of an active shooter or other attack.
In the case of an active shooter or other violent attack, potential victims have little or no advance warning. The sound of gunshots may be the earliest alert you receive, leaving little time to react. That’s why it is more important that you are prepared with a proactive plan of self defense, so you know how to respond immediately.
For years we were taught to shelter in place and wait for first responders. But studies have found that this line of defense results in increased casualties. Recently, offices and buildings have adopted the ALICE response plan. ALICE is an acronym for the five steps you can take to survive an active shooter attack. You may or may not use all the steps in the plan, but it’s nice to know that the fire extinguishers we regularly install and service, can actually be used effectively against an attacker in the “C” or “counter” step of ALICE.
So, in the event of an attack, remember ALICE:
- Alert- Let everyone in the office or the building know what is going on when you hear gunshots, receive a warning or phone message, etc. The faster you communicate, the more lives can be saved.
- Lockdown- If evacuation is not an option, lock the door, barricade it, and cover windows. Look for alternate escape routes, call 911, but do not open the door. Prepare yourself for the shooter to enter.
- Inform- Pass on as much information as you can. Who, what, where, when! The more those around you know, the better.
- Counter- Counter is one of the most dangerous but potential life saving strategies within the ALICE response. To counter is to fight back. Even in schools, there is one weapon, available to all, allowed and required in all buildings, and easy to use at your disposal against a predator. It’s your FIRE EXTINGUISHER!
While any object can become a weapon against the shooter, that five or ten-pound fire extinguisher on the wall can be very powerful. Remember that an armed assailant will not have a free hand to block counterattacks, nor will they be expecting one. Use your fire extinguisher to throw at the shooter or as a bludgeon when he comes through the door. Even if hitting him over the head does not knock him unconscious, it can buy you time to escape. You can also pull the pin and deploy the contents which can potentially blind or suffocate the shooter, or at the very least, startle him/her, long enough to disarm or tackle them.
To use a fire extinguisher, remember PASS:
- Pull the pin. Hold the extinguisher with the nozzle pointing away from you and release the locking mechanism.
- Aim low. Point the extinguisher at the base of the fire.
- Squeeze the lever slowly and evenly.
- Sweep the nozzle from side-to-side.
Once the can is empty, keep your grasp and ram the bottom of the can into the attacker’s face or body. Having training on how to correctly use a fire extinguisher ahead of time can ensure that your employees are prepared for more than fighting fires!
If you automatically locate the nearest escape doors when you go into a public place, it’s also a good time to note where the fire extinguishers are located, just in case.
The last letter in the ALICE acronym is “E.”
- Evacuate- Escaping the danger zone is always the best self defense option in the event of a shooter. Total Fire & Safety offers emergency evacuation and fire safety training so your people are trained to respond in a productive, organized way should an emergency ensue.
Total Fire and Safety is committed to all areas of life safety, including self defense against active shooters. For more information on our training, see our website or give us a call: 630-960-5060.
Category: Business Safety, Fire Extinguishers, Fire Extinguishers, Fire Safety, Health and Safety Tags: employee training, fire and safety equipment, Fire Extinguisher, fireextinguisher, Fireextinguishertraining, firesafetytraining, lifesafety, safety, Self Defense, Total Fire and Safety | Comments Off on When Self Defense Meets Fire Safety
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July 23, 2019 by Total Fire and Safety
When people think of careers in fire safety in Illinois, they usually think of firefighters. But what about the folks who prevent the fires in the first place? These dedicated professionals work in the area of commercial fire safety. They help commercial buildings and residential dwellings stay up to code with the fire safety equipment, and thus, can save lives indirectly by keeping people safe and prepared for fire emergencies.
Providing fire safety to any business, at any level, starts with teamwork. If one aspect of fire safety fails (sprinkler, extinguisher, or alarm), it can make the difference between life and death. All the fire safety components work within a life safety ecosystem, which includes government code compliance, a skilled workforce, and an investment in safety equipment, installation, and training. As part of a commercial fire safety team such as Total Fire and Safety, you are part of a life-saving mission. We provide customers their first offense in putting out a fire on their premises.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics and their Occupational Outlook Handbook, the projected employment change for security and fire alarm system installers is expected to grow 14 percent, which is faster than the average career. They are expecting growth of 10,400 new jobs between 2016-2020. Currently, Illinois, the home state of Total Fire & Safety, is among the states in the nation that employs the most installers in this field. (see chart below).
 Chart reprinted from Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wages, May 2018, 49-2098 Security and Fire Alarm Systems Installers
Many of the careers in fire safety require a high school diploma or equivalent but mainly, on-the-job training. At Total Fire & Safety, we have a vigorous employee training program that prepares our people for many of the jobs that are so needed in the industry, such as customer service, sales representatives, dispatchers, fire alarm service technicians, fire extinguisher technicians, fire sprinkler service technicians, etc. We even have an on-site training facility (pictured below) where we regularly host classes and training modules for TFS employees.
You’ve heard the phrase teamwork makes the dream work, right? At Total Fire and Safety we are always looking for dedicated professionals to join our commercial fire safety team, which has that has provided fire safety for over 30 years. If you are looking for employment or are ready for a career change, join Total Fire and Safety and see how working as a team can save lives.
To learn more about the opportunities available and experience needed at Total Fire and Safety, visit our employment page or search us on Indeed.
Category: Business Safety, Fire Safety, Total Fire and Safety Tags: commercial fire protection, commercial fire safety, employee training, fire and safety equipment, fire safety, fire safety training, Fireextinguishertraining, firesafetytraining, Total Fire and Safety, training | Comments Off on Find Your Career in Illinois Commercial Fire Safety
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March 21, 2018 by admin
Join us for the 2018 Fire Safety Symposium
at Total Fire & Safety!
Register below! Space is limited!
Category: Business Safety, Client Events, Fire Extinguishers, Fire Extinguishers, Fire News, Fire Safety Tags: commercial fire safety, employee training, fire and safety equipment, fire and safety solutions, Fire Extinguisher, fire safety, fireextinguisher, Fireextinguishertraining, Total Fire & Safety, Total Fire and Safety, training | Comments Off on Fire Safety Symposium
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January 15, 2018 by Total Fire and Safety
There’s no better way to ring in the new year and make sure your business is ready for any emergency 2018 brings than with proper fire extinguisher service at all of your locations. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) states that all portable fire extinguishers be inspected on a monthly basis and maintained by a licensed fire protection company on an annual basis. Yet each year nearly 25,000 fires cost companies over billions of dollars from not only recovery of property and premises but worker’s compensation filings and lawsuits from employees. Sometimes damages could have been reduced if employees had been aware of and actually used the fire extinguishers available.
Properly working fire extinguishers are a first line of defense against fires and can significantly minimize damage until help can arrive. Total Fire and Safety provides a thorough inspection that begins when we walk in the door, and continues throughout the building. Our fire extinguisher service contains our twelve-point check. What are the 12 points?
- Visual examination: We ensure the device is free of dents, rust, corrosion, and other related hazards.
- Test/Maintenance history: We review the test/maintenance history to ensure the internal system is active.
- Pressure Gauge: We check the pressure gauge to confirm the compression in the tank.
- Weight: We make sure the right amount of fluid is inside the tank.
- Discharge hose: We remove it and inspect for irregularities.
- Locking pin: We check for ease of removal in the event of a disaster.
- Handle/Lever: We ensure that the handle/pin will discharge smoothly.
- Clean Extinguisher: We degrease any pertinent areas.
- Inspection certification: We attach a safety flag and service tag to signify when service was completed.
- Extinguisher: We return it to the designated location.
- Mounting Bracket: We secure the extinguisher on its mount correctly.
- Hazard Application: We confirm you have the proper extinguisher type installed for your application.
Hand in hand with having extinguishers is teaching your employees how to use them. That’s why Total Fire & Safety also offers training courses for your employees/tenants so that in the case of an actual emergency, they will not hesitate to reach for the fire extinguisher.
Fire extinguishers are not only legally required but also give employees piece of mind, especially if they know how to use them. Employees appreciate working for a company that has their safety in mind. However, fire extinguisher service is definitely key.
If your fire extinguishers need service or are due for an inspection, please don’t hesitate to contact us at contact us at 630.960.5060.
Category: Fire Equipment Inspections, Fire Extinguishers, Fire Extinguishers, Fire Safety Tags: commercial fire safety, Extinguisher, fire and safety equipment, fire equipment inspection, Fire Extinguisher, fire extinguisher inspection, fire safety, fireextinguisher, Fireextinguishertraining | Comments Off on Is it time for Fire Extinguisher Service?
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June 17, 2015 by Total Fire and Safety
All fires and fire extinguishers are not created equal. It is important, especially in a commercial setting, that a business has the right kind of fire extinguishers available and ready to go for the most probable fires. Fires are classified five ways (see chart below). While a restaurant may be most concerned with Type K fires, a manufacturing plant may be concerned with B or D.
According to the NFPA, the materials which ignite the most industrial fires are flammable liquids and gases, and electrical wire or insulation. These materials are common in industrial settings, so be sure to follow all fire safety recommendations, and know what kind of fire extinguishers are best to have on hand in the workplace.
Here is a chart that explains which type of fire extinguishers work for each type of fire. Of these fires, only one (type A) can be extinguished with water. The rest require special ingredients that cut off oxygen in different ways, therefore, it’s important to have the right kind of extinguisher on hand.
Once you have the correct extinguisher in place, it’s also important to make sure that you have regularly scheduled fire extinguisher inspections and that your employees have correct fire extinguisher training. Total Fire and Safety offers fire extinguishers for every type of fire. If you have any questions about the type of extinguisher you should have onsite, or current extinguisher maintenance issues, please feel free to contact us at 630.960.5060
Category: Fire Extinguishers Tags: Fire Extinguisher, fireextinguisher, Fireextinguishertraining, firesafetytraining | Comments Off on Do You Know What Type of Fire Extinguisher Your Business Needs?
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May 11, 2013 by Total Fire and Safety
Effective Training
We can simulate A, B and C class fires at four difficulty levels and have the capability of grading trainees on their performance. Hundreds of trainees can be trained in a single day without weather restrictions, EPA environmental issues or the mess of using conventional training methods.
Safe Atmosphere
Total Fire & Safety Inc. incorporates the latest technology, utilizing digital flames with laser or water training extinguishers.
Program Advantages
- Makes training to OSHA requirements safe and easy
- Allows training to take place entirely indoors: in the conference room, hallways, or in the actual work environment where the emergency would potentially take place
- Has the ability to grade users, making it easy to monitor improvement and proficiency
- No toxic waste or extinguisher residue left behind after training is complete
- A burn permit is not required while eliminating the hazards associated with conventional fire extinguisher training.
Category: Uncategorized Tags: Extinguishertraining, fireextinguisher, Fireextinguishertraining, firesafetytraining | Comments Off on Fire Equipment Training
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