Sunday, October 5, 2014

Nature: Fire Prevention Awareness Program

Location: Rehoboth Beach Bandstand

Address: Rehoboth Avenue, Rehoboth Beach, DE

On Sunday, October 5th, the Indian River Volunteer Fire Company attended the Rehoboth Beach Volunteer Fire Company’s Annual Fire Prevention Awareness Program Kick off Campaign to highlight public awareness of the volunteer fire service in Delaware as well as promoting the National Fire Protection Association's (NFPAs) 2014 Fire Prevention Week.

This event is the capstone for Fire Prevention Week in Rehoboth Beach and includes many surrounding fire companies and public service entities including the Delaware Forestry Service, the Rehoboth Beach Police Department, the Delaware State Fire School and many other entities.

This Fire Prevention Public Awareness Initiative permitted the dissemination of fire safety and fire prevention publications for children as well as adults. These materials included fire prevention coloring books and pamphlets, firefighter hats, and other related publications.

The Indian River Volunteer Fire Company wishes to acknowledge the continued cooperation of its neighboring fire companies as well as the tremendous outpouring of community support.

Throughout the day, approximately 250 persons attended the presentation booth.

The theme and related information for the fire prevention week:

“Working Smoke Alarms Save Lives: Test Yours Every Month!”

June 9, 2014 – The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) today announced “Working Smoke Alarms Save Lives: Test Yours Every Month!” as the theme for Fire Prevention Week 2014, October 5-11.

“Smoke alarms can make a life-saving difference in a fire, but they need to be working,” said Lorraine Carli, NFPA’s vice president of Outreach and Advocacy. “Unfortunately, many home fire deaths result from fires where a smoke alarm is present but does not operate. This year’s Fire Prevention Week theme focuses on motivating people to test their smoke alarms each month to make sure they’re working properly.”

According to NFPA statistics:

• Having a working smoke alarm in the home cuts the risk of dying in a fire in half.

• On average each year, three out of five home fire deaths result in fires where there are either no smoke alarms or no working smoke alarms.

• In one-quarter (23 percent) of the home fire deaths, smoke alarms were present but did not sound.

“Nearly 3,000 people continue to die in fires each year, with most of those deaths occurring in homes,” said Carli. “The vast majority of home fire deaths are preventable, and working smoke alarms play a big role in helping reduce those numbers.”

NFPA recommends:

• Installing smoke alarms inside every bedroom, outside each sleeping area and on every level of the home, including the basement.

• Testing all smoke alarms every month by using the test button.

• Replacing all smoke alarms every 10 years or sooner if they don’t respond properly when tested.

Additional information may be obtained by viewing: http://www.irvfc.com/gallery?id=1454&ss=1