I used to work as maintenance/security at a large nursing home (2 wings, 5 stories each, 200+ residents.) One day, we were conducting a firefighting demonstration with the fire department for the residents and staff. The intent was to provide some guidance as to the proper use of fire extinguishers and other equipment and to instill confidence in residents as to their safety. We put out a number of fires of different types with the extinguishers. During a break, some of the guys picked up a CO2 extinguisher and sprayed it at one another. A CO2 extinguisher releases extremely cold gas. Fun and harmless. It chills your target. I decided to take a turn at this fun as well. Both of my supervisors and two of my coworkers were standing together. This was a perfect target ! I picked up an extinguisher and let 'em have it.....Unfortunately, it was not a CO2 extinguisher. It was a chemically based extinguisher that released a fine white powder that snuffed out oxygen. When I pulled the handle, a white cloud enveloped my supervisors and coworkers. When it cleared, they were all covered in fine white dust that looked like flour. Head to toe. They all opened their little moist pink eyes and blinked at me. (Job tip: It might not be good for your career prospects to make both of your supervisors look like a Pillsbury product during public demonstrations.) Worse, my coworker Donnie had gotten a mouth full of the chemical..you know, the one that snuffs out oxygen. So, he was standing there trying to get a breath and.having the oxygen snuffed out every time he tried. My other coworker also couldn't breath, because he was rolling around on the ground laughing. Later (after Donnie started breathing again), my conversation with Donnie went, "Gee, Donnie, I'm really sorry I almost killed you." I think the residents were adequately impressed as to the level of our firefighting skill.
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