NFPA and State Farm team up for fifth year to promote Fire Prevention Week and its fire safety messages in hundreds of communities nationwide
September 30, 2021 – The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and State Farm are teaming for the fifth consecutive year to promote Fire Prevention Week™, October 3-9, 2021 and its fire safety messages among thousands of communities nationwide. NFPA has been the official sponsor of Fire Prevention Week, an annual public awareness campaign, for nearly 100 years.
State Farm is delivering approximately 3,500 Fire Prevention Week toolkits and other fire safety resources to local fire departments in 48 states. Each toolkit includes a host of resources for promoting Fire Prevention Week, including brochures, magnets, posters and more that fire departments can distribute at schools, open houses, and other community events. They are also donating over 1500 Sparky the Fire Dog educator kits to communities across the U.S.
“Actively supporting local fire departments is a priority at State Farm,” said David Coakes, corporate responsibility manager at State Farm. “We’re thrilled to team up with NFPA so that fire departments have the resources needed to share potentially life-saving fire safety messages with their communities.”
“Learn the Sounds of Fire Safety™,” the theme for this year’s Fire Prevention Week campaign, works to better educate people about the sounds smoke alarms make, what they mean, and how to respond to them.
The latest “Smoke Alarms in the U.S.” report from NFPA shows that working smoke alarms reduce the risk of dying in a reported home fire by 55 percent. However, almost three out of five U.S. home fire deaths occur in homes with no smoke alarms (41 percent) or smoke alarms that failed to operate (16 percent). Missing or non-functional power sources, including missing or disconnected batteries, dead batteries, and disconnected hardwired alarms or other AC power issues, are the most common factors when smoke alarms fail to operate.
This year’s Fire Prevention Week campaign reflects NFPA and State Farm’s efforts to make sure smoke alarms remain in working order, giving people the time needed to escape safely in the event of a home fire.
“The proactive support we receive from State Farm strengthens our ability to reach the public with our Fire Prevention Week messages,” said Andrea Vastis, senior director of public education at NFPA. “We’re incredibly grateful for their ongoing generosity and commitment to reducing the risks associated with home fires, particularly where the majority of U.S. fire deaths occur each year.”
To learn more about this year’s Fire Prevention Week campaign, visit www.fpw.org
NFPA®: 125 Years of Protecting People and Property
The National Fire Protection Association® (NFPA®) is a global self-funded nonprofit organization devoted to eliminating death, injury, property, and economic loss due to fire, electrical, and related hazards. The association began its work to solve the fire problem in a young, industrialized nation in 1896 and is recognized around the globe as a leader in advocating for safety. NFPA delivers information and knowledge through more than 325 consensus codes and standards, research, training, education, outreach, and advocacy; and by partnering with others who share an interest in furthering the NFPA mission. In celebration of its 125th Anniversary, NFPA will be hosting a Conference Series and other initiatives that reflect the steadfast commitment to advancing fire and life safety by the association for the next 125 years and beyond. For more information or to view NFPA codes and standards for free, visit www.nfpa.org.
About Fire Prevention Week™
NFPA has been the official sponsor of Fire Prevention Week™ since 1922. According to the National Archives and Records Administration's Library Information Center, Fire Prevention Week is the longest running public health and safety observance on record. The President of the United States has signed a proclamation declaring a national observance during that week every year since 1925. Visit www.firepreventionweek.org for more safety information.