(MENAFN- Muscat Daily) The Traffic Safety Expo 2012 to be held next month will also put in spotlight the role of fire fighters and fire fighting equipment. Although modern vehicles are equipped with latest technologies that minimise accident rates to a great extent, most drivers do not know how to react to vehicle fires.The causes for vehicle fires can be put down to high temperatures, poor maintenance, driving continuously for long distances, human error etc."Fire fighters need proper equipment to respond to all sorts of emergency situations including road accidents. The expo will be featuring an entire range of equipment related to fire safety including detection and control devices, safety and protection equipment, fire fighting equipment, personal equipment, weather management and information systems," Alawi al Murazza, a representative of the expo stated in a release.The equipment includes turnout gear (protective clothing like insulated pants, jackets and gloves, steel-toed insulated boots, helmet with a face shield and self-contained breathing apparatus) and extrication tools such as hydraulic cutters, among others.Although some countries maintain that every vehicle should be equipped with an extinguisher, drivers are advised against its use. According to the release, drivers should , instead pull their vehicle over to the side of the road and warn other drivers about the problem.They must then shut the engine off and proceed to evacuate the passengers to about 100 feet away to avoid inhalation of toxic fumes and protect them from explosions. Next, the emergency services such as the police, medical team and fire department should be notified.Should situations force the driver to use his extinguisher, he must be aware of its use. If the fire is small and within the car's interior, use the extinguisher or shutting the door will douse the fire. If the fire is under the hood, it should be popped and the fire extinguished through the gap.What to do if your car catches fire
-Â Â Â Â Â Pull over to the side of the road and turn off the engine.-Â Â Â Â Â Evacuate passengers to about 100 feet away to be safe from fumes and blasts-Â Â Â Â Â Inform police or fire fighters-Â Â Â Â Â Use the extinguisher if the fire is small and in the car's interior-Â Â Â Â Â Don't try to lift the hood if the is fire under it. Just pop it open and use the extinguisher through the gap- Â Â Â Â Â Stay away from the car if the fire is near the gas tank
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