ALERT

PUTTING OUT FIRES

MOST South Africans don’t have fire extinguishers at home, which is why the Put It Out mini fire extinguisher caught my eye. Developed as a first response to small fires, the pouch contains acetic acid which is activated by the addition of a bicarbonate of soda ball – when it’s mixed, it produces CO2 which will douse most domestic fires. It’s non-toxic and has a two-year shelf life. Product developer Toli Altounis says it is only available at a few outlets in Joburg but they are looking for distributors. “The cheapest fire extinguisher is about R120. We want Put It Out retailing nationwide for less than R30. The real South Africa has no access to water and fire trucks – this is my way of coming up with a product that can help people.” Corporates, take note: rather than gifting T-shirts, here is something that could save lives. See www.putitout.co.za