Final answer:
Portable fire extinguishers are devices that can be hand-carried and are essential for managing small fires quickly in safety-critical environments, such as laboratories.
Step-by-step explanation:
Portable fire extinguishers are extinguishers that can be carried by hand. They are designed to be a quick and efficient way to put out small fires before they spread into larger, uncontrollable blazes. Knowing where these extinguishers are located in a space, such as a laboratory, is crucial for safety. An understanding of fire extinguisher systems and how they work is also important, such as how a fluorinated solution can spread across a burning surface to extinguish fires. While we no longer recommend certain substances like dry-cleaning solvent for use in extinguishers, there are many innovations in firefighting technology, such as foams that coat and smother flames. In addition to extinguishers, being aware of safety equipment like eyewash stations is vital for responding correctly to emergencies.