When using a portable fire extinguisher, the correct steps are as follows: First, quickly get to the fire scene and hold the extinguisher by its carrying handle. Before use, grasp the handle and shake it up and down while turning it upside down to ensure the dry powder is loosened. Next, remove the seal and pull out the safety pin. During use, keep a safe distance, hold the hose with your left hand, aim the nozzle at the base of the flames, and press down firmly on the operating lever with your right hand. Sweep from side to side from near to far, and advance quickly until the flames are extinguished.
For fires caused by flammable liquids, aim at the base of the flames from the side and use a side-to-side sweeping motion while moving forward quickly to ensure any remaining flames are put out. During firefighting, do not aim the nozzle directly at the liquid surface, as the airflow impact may cause the liquid to splash and make extinguishing more difficult.
For solid-material fires, aim the extinguisher nozzle at the area burning most intensely and sweep from side to side to ensure the dry powder evenly covers the surface of the burning material until the fire is extinguished. When using a dry powder extinguisher, keep it upright and do not tilt or invert it; otherwise, the dry powder may not discharge. After extinguishing the fire, continue to monitor the area to prevent re-ignition.
Before use, check whether the pointer on the extinguisher pressure gauge is in the green zone. Red indicates insufficient pressure, and yellow indicates excessive pressure; neither condition is suitable for use. Proper use can effectively deal with fire situations and improve firefighting results.