Fatality During Servicing of Fire Extinguisher

Fire extinguisher is an integral part of emergency responses to small fires. Different types of fire extinguisher exists; cartridge-based fire extinguisher is commonly used. Despite their intended use for safety, such devices can become dangerous if not properly handled or maintained. This case report describes the death of a soldier from the explosion of a cartridge-based fire extinguisher during routine servicing. The case is the first reported in the medical literature. A safety device like fire extinguisher can become dangerous if not handled with care and due steps should be taken for the maintenance of such devices before being operated in the public domain.