You don't need specific training but there are tips and advice that you should know.
You do not need to have training as such, however, whether you are at home or in the workplace, we would recommend that you familiarise yourself with the product so that, in the case of emergency, you know how to use it.
Firstly, it's important to know about the types of extinguishers and what types of fire they should be used on - the last thing you want is to be using the wrong type of fire extinguisher and make the fire worse! You can find out more about the types of extinguishers and their uses here.
Generally, we would suggest using the PASS technique with fire extinguishers - you can find a video demostration here. The PASS technique stands for: P – Pull the pin, A – Aim, S – Squeeze & S – Sweep the nozzle back and forth. This process will apply to the majority of fire extinguishers and gives you a specific action to take when faced with a fire that you think you can manageably tackle. Please do not put yourself at risk, you should call the emergency services if you think tackling the fire would put you in harms way.
When faced with specialist fires, such as Lithium-ion battery fires, it's important to educate yourself on the specific risks and how to act in case of emergency. You can find more guidance on our Battery Fire Safety site, here.