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Taking
a stand during National Fire Prevention Month, the Fire
Safety Council announces the first in a series of steps to
eliminate deaths from residential fires by 2020. The
Council also unveiled its web site, www.FireSafety.gov,
which provides up-to-date information about programs and
prevention information, as well as an interactive page for
children.
The
16-member council -- founded by the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention (CDC), the United States Fire
Administration (USFA), and the Consumer Product Safety
Commission (CPSC) – has initiated a pilot program to
combine their smoke alarm installation programs to reach
the 5 million American homes without smoke alarms.
The plan builds on CDC’s research and programs that
demonstrate the effectiveness of installing long-lasting,
lithium-powered smoke alarms in homes in high risk
communities.
“Each
residential fire death is preventable. Our primary
injury prevention goal is ending these unnecessary
deaths,” said CDC Director Julie L. Gerberding, MD.
“National Fire Prevention Month is a logical time for
everyone to join the Fire Safety Council in assuring that
every home has a working smoke alarm, and that the
batteries in those alarms are changed this month.”
Between
1977 and 2002, home fire deaths decreased two to three
percent per year in the United States. Still, the
National Fire Protection Association reports that an
estimated 2,670 people died in the estimated 389,000
reported home fires in 2002. Home fires account for
four of every five fire-related deaths and three of every
four fire-related injuries.
“Each
year in this country thousands of people are killed in
preventable home fires,” said USFA Administrator R.
David Paulison. “Bringing these experts together
to tackle this challenge unites forces to make our homes
safer, and further protects the lives of America’s
firefighters. We are saving lives through the joint
efforts of our members.”
Children
ages five years and younger and adults 65 years and older
are at greatest risk for fire-related deaths in the home.
Other populations at risk include African Americans,
American Indians and Alaska Natives, smokers, and people
living in poverty or in homes manufactured before 1976.
“The
US Consumer Product Safety Commission has made significant
progress in reducing fire-related deaths during the past
30 years,” said CPSC Chairman Hal Stratton. “We
are continuing our efforts to further reduce fire deaths
by focusing on the consumer products most often involved
in these deaths—electrical products, upholstered
furniture, mattresses and heating equipment.”
The
Fire Safety Council combines knowledge, research and
program experience from the fields of public health, fire
prevention, consumer products, housing, insurance and
community action to address the problem of residential
fire deaths comprehensively. Organizations
interested in supporting the Council can contact Julie
Rodgers at JRodgers1@cdc.gov.
In
addition to CDC, USFA and CPSC, Fire Safety Council
members include American Burn Association, American
Insurance Association, American Red Cross, Congressional
Fire Services Institute, US Department of Housing and
Urban Development, Home Safety Council, Indian Health
Service, International Association of Fire Chiefs,
International Fire Marshals Association, National
Association of State Fire Marshals, National Fire
Protection Association, National SAFE KIDS Campaign,
Underwriters Laboratory.
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