A fire blanket is a piece of fire safety equipment that can be used to tackle minor, contained fires in laboratories.  They are made of specially treated synthetic and fire-resistant or fire-retardant materials, including woven fiberglass and wool, and can withstand temperatures of up to 1,500°F.

While a fire blanket is not as effective as a fire extinguisher at putting out a fire, it can be a lifesaver in an emergency involving a small fire.  It can also serve other safety functions in the laboratory that are discussed below.

Fire

Fire blankets should only be used as a last resort to extinguish clothing fires.  Fire blankets tend to hold in heat and may increase the severity of a burn.  If you wrap a fire blanket around a victim while they are standing up, the blanket can result in a “chimney effect” and direct flames upward toward the victim’s face and head.

Clothing fires are best extinguished by dropping to the floor and rolling (Stop, Drop and Roll!).  Only use a fire blanket to extinguish fires involving a person when they are laying down.  Standing up to acquire a fire blanket while clothing is on fire should be avoided.

First Aid

The best use of a fire blanket is to wrap an injured person to keep them warm and to help them avoid shock.  They can also be used to provide privacy curtain for someone using a safety shower.

Spill Control

A fire blanket is an excellent spill control device because it will contain and control a spill and its vapors.  If a spill occurs and no spill control materials are readily available, simply throw the fire blanket over the spill.