Fire Prevention Week, October 5-11

October 5-11 is Fire Prevention Week, an annual campaign focused on fire safety and promoted by the National Fire Protection Association. Did you know that fire departments responded to nearly 400,000 home fires in 2006? That's why this year's theme is titled "Prevent Home Fires." I strongly encourage you to educate your family about fire safety. Practice EDITH (exit drills in the home.) Make sure everyone knows to get out and stay out if there is a fire in the home. Make sure everyone knows where to meet, so everyone can be accounted for. Conduct a fire inspection in your home to identify hazards--before they can ignite a fire. Make sure your smoke detectors are working properly and that extinguisher, too. As a long time member of NFPA, I can attest to the conviction, expertise, and professionalism of the NFPA staff. I urge you to take their advice to heart. For more helpful information and educational tools, check out the following on the NFPA Fire Prevention Week website:

• Read our blog
• New survey looks at heating costs, fire risk
• Send a Sparky® e-card to friends
• Interactive learning stations for your open house.
• The Great American Fire Drill
• Online safety quiz.
• Free Scholastic materials
• View three new Dan Doofus FPW videos
• Home inspection checklist

"Reproduced from NFPA's Fire Prevention Week Web site, www.firepreventionweek.org. ©2008 NFPA."