PASS is the mnemonic taught on almost every extinguisher course: pull the pin, aim at the base of the fire, squeeze the handle, sweep across. It is a good summary of the mechanical operation of a unit and it is not a decision procedure. The decisions that matter most happen before the pin is pulled, and any training that starts at P has skipped them.
What the four steps are for
Pull removes the safety pin, which also breaks the tamper seal and is the reason a broken seal means a unit may have been discharged. Aim at the base because the fuel is what has to be treated, not the visible flame above it. Squeeze because a controlled discharge lasts longer than a burst. Sweep because a single point of attack leaves the rest of the fuel bed burning.
The decisions that come first
Has the alarm been raised. Is there a clear route out behind the person, still clear if the fire grows. Is the fire small enough that one extinguisher is a realistic answer. Is this the right agent for the fuel. Is anybody else being asked to wait while this is attempted. A no to any of these means leaving, and that is the outcome training should make easy rather than shameful.
Discharge time is shorter than people expect
A portable extinguisher runs for a matter of seconds, not minutes. Practical training on a live fire rig is what makes that real; without it people plan as though they have a hose. Knowing the run time is what turns the sweep step from a technique into a budget.
Position while using it
Back to the exit, upwind where there is a draught, at the limit of the effective range rather than close in. For a class B fire the approach is off a surface rather than straight at the pool. None of this is in the mnemonic, which is the argument for practical rather than slide based training.
Questions people ask about pass for fire extinguisher
Is the pass in fire extinguisher training a legal requirement?
The law requires adequate fire safety training for employees, and where extinguishers are provided for staff use the training has to cover using them. The mnemonic is one common way of delivering part of that.
Should everybody be trained to use an extinguisher?
That is a decision for the risk assessment. Some buildings train nominated people only and instruct everybody else to leave, which is a legitimate and often safer arrangement.
How often should the training be repeated?
Frequently enough that it is current, and again whenever the risks, the people or the provision change. An annual refresher is common practice in buildings where staff are expected to act.