Why Anyone Can Use Element in an Emergency

When a fire suddenly springs up, things get stressful quickly. Adrenaline can spike with all the flames and heat, and panic can set in fast. For those who have never had to use a fire extinguisher before, the situation can seem overwhelming. Will I be able to figure this out? Is it even operational? Am I going to make things worse?

With an Element fire extinguisher, those questions get answered quickly and easily, as this video of a first-time user clearly shows. Shot in one take, in real time, a person who had never seen an Element E-50 before is asked to get it started. In less than ten seconds - eight, to be precise - they had it figured out using only the instructions printed on the unit. 

 ▶️ Watch the first-time user demonstration

That simplicity is by design. Unlike traditional extinguishers with safety pins, pressure gauges, and squeeze levers, Element keeps the process straightforward. To use it, you simply remove the cap, scratch the tip with the included starter, and point the vapor stream at the fire. That’s it.

That foolproof activation method is exactly what you see in the video. The user doesn’t need training, muscle strength, or any special gear. As quickly and easily as striking a match, the extinguisher activates and stays active for nearly a full minute, providing more than enough time to calmly sweep the fire out.

A traditional extinguisher gives you maybe 7–10 seconds of discharge, increasing the pressure to get it right. The extra 50 seconds or more delivered by the Element E50 buys you time to build confidence - and for a first-time user, that confidence is everything.

The video shows the result: no fumbling, no confusion, and no hesitation.  Another detail we see in this video is that there’s no giant powder cloud, no mess to clean up afterward, and no damage to surrounding surfaces. The potassium vapor used by Element is non-toxic, non-corrosive, and electrically non-conductive, meaning it can be safely used around people, pets, and electronics, even in enclosed spaces.

That’s reassuring when you’re feeling hesitant about destroying something valuable in your kitchen or garage just to put out a small fire. The extra confidence can make a huge difference when a fire is starting to spread and every second matters. This demonstration shows that anyone, without special training, can safely operate an Element 50. When things start to get stressful, it’s good to know that you have a simple solution standing by to solve it.