NFPA Sounds Alarm for Fire Prevention Week 2010
The National Fire Protection Association has announced the theme for Fire Prevention Week, which will be observed this year Oct. 3-9. This year's campaign theme, "Smoke Alarms: A sound you can live with," emphasizes the importance of smoke alarms in preventing fire deaths, injuries, and property loss.
According to the NFPA, 2,755 people were killed and 13,160 were injured in home fires in 2008. Three out of every five home fire deaths were in a home with either no smoke alarms or where the smoke alarms were not working. NFPA says that when used properly, smoke alarms can reduce the risk of dying in a fire by half. This year's theme focuses on how to choose, install, and maintain smoke alarms in the home.
To find Fire Prevention Week planning materials, safety tips, statistical information, and other resources that can be used by fire departments, Fire Corps teams, and teachers, visit www.firepreventionweek.org.
To order smoke alarms to install in your community through the First Alert Smoke Alarm Donation Program and to access a home safety inspection checklist, visit www.firecorps.org/prevention.