WALL-E: Film Fun With A Fire Extinguisher

This summer, the must-see film for UK children of all ages will be Disney Pixar's new film, "Wall-E". This animated masterpiece is the charming story of Wall-E, the last robot left clearing up the Earth's accumulated rubbish long after the last humans have cut and run. Even after 700 years of scooping and crushing endless heaps of discarded trash, Wall-E is curious about the items he finds in the garbage.

In one scene, he discovers a discarded fire extinguisher which 'blows him away' - and another he finds in a spaceship escape pod provides a novel form of transport...

On the official Wall-E website, children can play the 'Space Escape' game, propelling Wall-E through space using a CO2 fire extinguisher for propulsion. (This is available on the Disney site in the Disney Pictures Wall-E section where you click on the Games tab top left, and choose 'Space Escape' for the game, or to see the film clip, click on the Videos tab and scroll down to 'Space Walk')

Unfortunately, some children have a habit of taking aspects of their favourite films a little too literally. For example, after the release of the Pixar animation film "Finding Nemo", there were reports of children 'liberating' pet fish down the lavatory to swim to the sea, just like the hero clownfish, Nemo.

So, if Wall-E has fun with a fire extinguisher, it is likely that children will be tempted to copy their robotic hero, and find out more about these objects they see everyday of their lives at school, in public buildings, and even in the cinema itself! For UK businesses, schools and homes, it's time to secure all crucial items of fire safety equipment from curious humans of all ages. Luckily, it's easy to keep your fire extinguishers safe from little (and not so little) hands.

First, ensure that all fire extinguishers are secured on a dedicated fire extinguisher stand or wall bracket, rather than just freestanding, so they are more difficult to access.

Secure all levers with anti-tamper seals. These simple pull-tite tags fix around the safety pin so it cannot be accidentally removed.

Cover your fire extinguishers with an extinguisher cover. Adults will know immediately there is a tempting fire extinguisher underneath, but kids probably won't give it a second look. Secured at the back with velcro, fire extinguisher covers are easily removed in an emergency, yet protect your fire extinguisher at all other times from tampering, dust, slashes and minor scuffs.

The discarded fire extinguisher Wall-E discovers in the rubbish heap is more of a hazard than Wall-E (or children) may realise. All old fire extinguishers must be disposed of properly for recycling, and not simply thrown away into landfill. Many UK businesses have discovered it is cheaper and more environmentally friendly to actually replace old fire extinguishers with brand new ones, rather than refurbish their old stock. New extinguishers are often lighter and more efficient, and with the rising cost of transporting old extinguisher to and from a refurbishing factory, cheaper too.

All old fire extinguisher and the majority of their contents can easily be recycled. Simply take any old fire extinguishers to your nearest civic amenity site (local dump), where they will be safely stored under lock and key before being taken for recycling. All fire extinguisher canisters are emptied, and pressure tested, and if sound, will be reused along with refurbished valves, pipes and fittings. If not, their metal cylinders are recycled.

Never discharge an old extinguisher unless you need to; old but safe extinguishers can be used for fire training for staff, before being recycled.

So, keep your fire extinguishers safe this summer from would-be Wall-Es, with fire extinguisher anti-tamper seals, secure fixings and protective fire extinguisher covers. Also, please dispose of any old fire extinguishers safely. And yes, you'll love the movie too!