By Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna
It’s never too early to get ready for Fire Prevention Week™ which is celebrated October 3-9 this year, featuring the theme “Learn the Sounds of Fire Safety™.” Fire Prevention Week (FPW) is NFPA’s signature fire prevention awareness event and the oldest continuously running U.S. Public Health Observance, launched in 1922.
This year’s theme grew out of the increased attention received of alarm notifications being heard in the background of people’s homes during remote learning and work. Recognizing the different sounds alarms make, and the action needed based on that sound, is critical to preventing injury and death from fire. This year’s theme also pays particular attention to smoke and carbon monoxide (CO) alarms and alert devices that meet the needs of people who are deaf or hard of hearing. These includes strobe lights, low frequency alarms, and bed/pillow shakers which activate at the sound of the alarm.
Every year throughout North America, Fire & Life Safety (FLS) educators, classroom teachers, injury prevention professionals and other community education professionals plan and implement a myriad of in person and virtual activities to celebrate Fire Prevention Week. The FPW Toolkit on the firepreventionweek.org website provides plug and play social media cards, FPW activity ideas, templates for press releases and event flyers, and campaign logos for use in a variety of settings.
Let NFPA be your guide to a successful Fire Prevention Week by visiting www.firepreventionweek.org and using the toolkit and online catalogue to plan your public education events and activities to help your community “Learn the Sounds of Fire Safety,” and know what to do!
