We should all have at least one fire extinguisher somewhere in our home, but it’s not enough to simply keep one under the kitchen sink. If there is a fire, your safety — and the safety of your home — depends on knowing how to use that fire extinguisher correctly. In case your fire extinguisher has been sitting around collecting dust, here’s everything you need to know before brushing it off and fighting a fire in your home the right way.

Steps for proper extinguisher use

Once you understand the different types of fire extinguishers and their uses, you need to be able to properly operate one.

Step 1: Identify a clear exit/escape route

Before operating the fire extinguisher, make sure you have a clear evacuation path. If you cannot put out the fire, you’ll need to make a safe exit. Also, make sure everyone else is being evacuated from the building.

Step 2: Call the fire department

Even if the fire appears manageable, you should always have the fire department on the way. Once firefighters arrive, they can double-check whether the fire has been completely extinguished.

Step 3: Stand back

Face the fire and keep your back to the clear exit. You should stay between 1.8 and 2.5 meters away from the flames as you prepare to operate the fire extinguisher.

Step 4: Operate the extinguisher

It can be difficult to think clearly during an emergency. Thankfully, there is a long-standing acronym (首字母缩略词) — PASS — to help you recall the steps involved in operating your fire extinguisher.

P: Pull the pin (保险销) on the fire extinguisher.

A: Aim low. Point the nozzle at the base of the fire instead of the flames.

S: Squeeze the handle or lever to discharge the extinguisher.

S: Sweep the nozzle back and forth until the flames are extinguished.

Step 5: Keep an eye on things

After the flames appear to be out, continue to watch the fire area to make sure it doesn’t reignite. If the fire does start up again, repeat the “PASS” process.

Step 6: Get to a safe place

Once the fire is out, or if you are unable to put it out, leave the scene. Find a place out of reach of the fire.

As globalization continues to make the world a smaller place, and goods become more accessible across borders, concerns about food safety in the Asia­Pacific region have steadily risen over the years. An APEC forum is being held in Beijing, to find ways to better address the problem.

156 participants from 19 APEC economies and 4 non­APEC members attended the APEC Food Safety Cooperation Forum, which has been actively looking for ways to strengthen food safety standard in the region, without affecting trade.

“As consumers are faced with more varieties of food, the potential food safety risk also becomes bigger.This forum has helped APEC economies to cooperate in supervision(监督), exchange information, and improve the overall food safety standard in the Asia­Pacific region,” said director of China’s General Administration of Quality Supervision Wu Qinghai.

For the first time the forum has brought together high­level regulators, academics, and industry stakeholders to talk about their respective roles in safety supervision.They say governments alone cannot shoulder this heavy duty.

In China, the continuous food safety problems have greatly hurt consumers’ confidence in domestic products; therefore more turned to imports. However, problems related to quality of those imported goods also began to show. In July this year, more than 400 batches (批) of food imported from 35 countries and regions were found substandard by the country’s top quality supervisor.

Governments and industries have been brought closer by this forum.As food moves more freely beyond borders, this forum is hoped to promote safety control cooperation, so APEC members can better benefit from the economic integration(经济一体化).

Ecotourism

    16     It is a new term in today’s tourism industry. But in an age of growing environmental awareness, it is not too difficult for us to imagine and understand this new form of holiday.

Ecotourism, which is considered as a kind of responsible tourism, is typically defined as travel to places where special and unusual plants, animals and cultural heritages are the main attractions.     17     Therefore, programs concerning the protection of some natural and cultural spots also form a part of ecotourism.

Ecotourism is developing at great speed. According to a recent report by the World Tourism Organization, ecotourism in recent years has enjoyed an annual growth of about 5% worldwide.     18     They include bird watching, hiking, diving, photography and taking part in various kinds of local cultural events.

If you love communing with nature, conserving the environment or improving the lives of people then ecotourism is an excellent way to see new and exciting places.     19     However, it looks like some smaller towns and country areas may well become the new destinations for people to visit tomorrow because they are rich in ecological, cultural and historical resources.

Ecotourism has been gaining increasing recognition and popularity mainly for the relaxing, natural and vivid experience it offers to tourists. People are attracted to nature and long to be close to it. However, a conflict between nature and human beings is unavoidable.     20    

I missed my four years at university, although I lived a _________life financially. I was full of _________and was determined to complete a double major in music and English literature.

Apart from a few textbooks a year, I had to _________at least two books a week for my classes, which really cost a lot. My tight _________ provided a roof over my head, in the form of an off-campus small old room. It was not in shape. I was so thrilled, however, to be living my dream and working on my college education. The tough condition could _________ affect me.

I spent almost all of my waking hours after classes _________ the piano and writing papers in the small and cold room. And I also _________part-time jobs in order to cover the cost of basics. To keep warm in the cold, rainy winter, I bought a pair of leather shoes. But soon I _________ them and they started to leak because of my frequent walking and running. I wore heavy socks and wrapped the boots with plastic bags to prevent _________getting in during the rainy seasons.

At the end of my senior year, I was full of __________because I was graduating. But it was also the time to rent graduation dress, book a sitting with the photographer and pay for my diploma. All of these __________seemed like mountains before me. I felt __________. There was no way for me to manage it.

As I was walking back to my room one night, I met one of my professors. When he commented on how excited I must be, I blurted out (脱口而出) my __________He said, “But didn’t you hear that news? You got a big award because of your excellent music composing. That’s a $5,000 cheque in your mailbox! You’re always __________in your study, which I think is why you won the first place in the competition of music composition. ” Later, I rushed to my mailbox! My hands shook as I unfolded the envelope which contained the cheque that could help me __________what were troubling me.