We live in a wonderfully diverse land and we often have to remember that we share our planet with many thousands of other species. Whilst the human race is supposed to be the dominant one, sometimes we come into close proximity to other animals that are much larger and much more threatening than we are. If you like to venture out into the great outdoors, you are much more likely to come into contact with wild animals and you really should consider carrying beer pepper spray with you.

Bear pepper spray is a variant of the product that has been used with so much success in our society by people who feel vulnerable when they are out and about. This item is much more potent than an item that a lady might carry in her purse, however and is designed to thwart the attack of a large dangerous creature.

If you are unlucky enough to be confronted by a bear in the woods, the first thing you should do is to try and appear as large as possible by waving your arms around. If you jump up and down and make a lot of noise, banging things together and blowing a whistle, you may be able to intimidate the animal. However, you should never confront and avoid direct eye contact. Stand your ground, as if you try and run away, remember they can reach speeds of up to 30 mph.

There are four different versions of bear pepper spray available, registered with the Environmental Protection Agency. The products vary according to their reach, weight, duration of spray and costs. Whatever you do don’t skimp on the cost as should you be in a position where you need to use a product you would be in great danger.

Experts say that a bear pepper spray that can reach at least 25 feet and has a spray duration of at least 6 seconds is perfect. You may need to use the spray if you should be be confronted with a charging bear and you should always aim for the face as this is what has proven to be most effective during their attacks.

Did you know that in 98% of cases, people who defended themselves with bear pepper spray escaped injury, whereas this figure drops to only 50% in circumstances where people defended themselves with a bullet. When a bear is hit with pepper spray in its eyes, it’ll get disorientated and confused, whereas the bullet has no way of really stopping an animal of such weight and size and will probably just make it madder.

Bear pepper spray is designed to shoot farther and has a wider effective area than regular spray, but it is still made from only Oleoresin Capsicum, a derivative of hot cayenne peppers.

In the unfortunate event that you are attacked by a charging bear, discharge the bear pepper spray towards the animal’s head. A large cloud of gas will be emitted and the animal will likely run into the cloud as it approaches. If you aim specifically for the eyes, you are likely to have the best effect, stopping the animal in its tracks and allowing you to flee.

No matter where you live or where you work, there is always the risk that a structural fire may start. A conveniently positioned fire extinguisher might be your first line of defense, and may save lives or property. Fire extinguishers are mandatory at places where the incidence of fire is very high, notably places like service stations and restaurants.

Fire extinguishers come in various different sizes. There are the heavy duty types that you can find at large factories. These ones may require more than one person to carry them conveniently. Then you have the portable styles that you find in small shops or homes.

There are 4 main types of fire extinguishers. They are categorized according to the types of combustible fuels they are designed to put out. We have Class A extinguishers that are used to put out fires made up of solid fuels (such as wood, paper, plastics etc.). The next class of fire extinguishers are the Class B extinguishers which are designed to put out liquid fires. This fire fighting equipment is most suitable for flammable liquids such as kerosene. The next class of extinguishers (Class C) are used for fires when there is electricity involved. This kind of fire extinguisher won’t conduct electricity back to the user and is safe to use if there is a suspicion that an electrical charge may be present. The final type of extinguishers are the ‘Class K’ versions. These units can be used on cooking oil fires in commercial kitchens.

In terms of how these devices operate, we have 2 main types of fire extinguishers. There is the stored pressure design, followed by the cartridge design. The pressure type has the particular substance that ultimately extinguishes the fire, along with a propellant of some kind inside the extinguisher itself. As you press the handle down, the extinguishing agent is expelled from the tank and a resulting powder gushes out from the nozzle to put out the fire. In the second design (the cartridge variant), there is no such pressure. Instead of this you have a tiny ancillary carbon dioxide cartridge that discharges into the cylinder when you depress the extinguisher’s handle. In this fashion it becomes converted to a stored pressure extinguisher which then puts out the fire.

As a principle, you should keep the extinguisher in a place that is simple to get to. It is best to keep them near escape routes or close to entrances and exits. You should not locate them higher than 4 feet off the ground, otherwise you’ll risk not being able to get it down. You might also consider storing them in places where they can be easily seen. It is not advisable to keep them inside cabinets or closets. As a safeguard make sure that you educate your household about where your extinguishers are located and what they need to do in case of fire.

Extinguishers require regular and proper upkeep. Usually they are serviced once a year by the manufacturer or by the Fire Department. Servicing involves cleaning the equipment, inspecting for corrosion and recharging of the gas which may have exceeded its expiry date. The technicians will also inspect the discharge nozzle and handles to see if they are in working condition.

Extinguishers are useful equipment. They protect your home, property and lives against fire. A small investment in their purchase can save you from huge losses and a great deal of inconvenience.

Fire extinguishers need little in the way of introduction. This is safety equipment which is (or should be) in every workplace and home; they are used to extinguish smaller fires or to keep them under control to minimize damage until the appropriate authorities arrive. You shouldn’t use a fire extinguisher on fires which have already gotten out of control. Nitrogen extinguishers and water-pressurized foam or water extinguishers are the most common types you’ll see.

Using the Correct Fire Extinguisher is very important. There are certain types of fires, just as there are certain types of fire extinguishers.

Fire extinguishers are printed with information on the kinds of fires they are designed to put out. Look at a fire extinguisher before you use it to be sure it is the correct fire extinguisher for the fire which has broken out. Each county has a different classification system for fires and fire extinguisher. These standards however, are very similar in every country.

In the UK, there are five categories of fires and five classes of fire extinguisher. Class A fires are those fueled by paper or wood, Class B liquefied solids or flammable liquids, Class C gases, Class D metals and Class F are grease fires and other cooking fires. Fire extinguishers used in the UK are coded with numbers and letters, such as 22B.

For an electrical fire, the UK uses either CO2 or a powder, and there will be an electrical pictogram signifying that this fire extinguisher is for electrical purposes only. Some fire extinguishers use foam. There are different types of foam for different types of fires. Aqueous Film Forming Foam is used to suppress vapors on both Class A and Class B fires. Alcohol resistant Aqueous Film Forming Foam is used on chemical fires that contain alcohol. This type of foam forms a membrane between the fuel and the foam, which prevents the alcohol from breaking down the blanket of the foam. Film Forming Fluoroprotein is more heat resistant and is used more in the racing industry. Compressed Air Foam System fire extinguishers are charged with foam and pressurized with compressed air. They are used mainly for wooded areas, which are classed as A, or B. Arctic Fire is a liquid extinguisher that cools heated materials faster than the ordinary foam and is used on Class A, B, and D fires in the steel industry. The use of Co2 fire extinguishers is necessary for sensitive electronic and even important documents. The reason Co2 is used is that it does not leave any type of residue on the fragile parts of the electronics.

In forestry, Compressed Air Foam Systems are helpful in containing Class A and B fires in wooded areas. There are also Arctic Fire extinguishers. These quickly cool superheated materials and are used extensively in the steel industry to put out Class A-D fires. When there are electronics or documents to be protected, CO2 fire extinguishers are employed; these are suitable for use around these delicate materials since they do not leave residues behind.

A CO2 fire extinguisher uses powder to halt the chemical reaction which cause the fuel to oxidize; this cuts off the flames from the fuel to quickly extinguish fires. Grease and electrical fires call for specialized fire extinguishers. Water can present a hazard with grease or electrical fires (and in the case of electrical fires, can be fatal).

Everyone should be informed of the types of fire extinguishers that are being used around their work areas. If you do not know or are not sure, ask one of your supervisors to explain them to you.