“Every Second Counts: Plan 2 Ways Out!”
 |
Watch the Highlands Broadcast PSA below. |
In 1922, Fire Prevention Day was changed into Fire Prevention Week. Ever since, Fire Prevention Week is observed on the Sunday through Saturday which contains the day of October the 9th. This day is significant because during the Great Chicago Fire in 1871, October 9th was the day of the worst destruction and loss of life. On the 40th anniversary of the fire, public officials decided to use it as an opportunity to brining attention to preventing fires. The first president to proclaim “Nation Fire Prevention Week” was Calvin Coolidge, in 1925.
Every year Fire Prevention Week is given a theme. Some years have shared themes and others have themes that reflect the current events of the time. Examples of the previous themes are:
 |
When is the last time you reviewed your insurance coverage? Call Tracy at 859-781-5313. This is an advertisement. |
1927- Why this Mad Sacrifice to Fire?
1928- Fire… Do your Part – Stop This Waste!
1932, 1933- Your Life. Your Property
1942- Today Every Fire Helps Hitler
1943- Fires Fight for the Axis! (to emphasize home fire prevention), Feed Fighters Not Fires (farm and rural campaign), The War’s Over for This Plant (industrial use), Was Somebody Careless? (General use)
1946- We Burned the Enemy-Now Save Yourself from Fire
1966-1972- Fire Hurts
1998-2000- The Great Escape
This year’s theme is “Every Second Counts: Plan 2 Ways Out!”.
Here are some tips and a helpful link from the National Fire Prevention Association (NFPA)
•
Draw a map of your home with all members of your household, marking two exits from each room and a path to the outside from each exit.
•
Practice your home fire drill twice a year. Conduct one at night and one during the day with everyone in your home, and practice using different ways out.
•
Teach children how to escape on their own in case you can’t help them.
•
Make sure the number of your home is clearly marked and easy for the fire department to find.
•
Close doors behind you as you leave – this may slow the spread of smoke, heat, and fire.
•
Once you get outside, stay outside. Never go back inside a burning building.
Once again the Fort Thomas Fire Department has teamed up with the Highlands High School Film and Broadcast students and their teacher,
Bill Poff, to create a video to further communicate this year’s theme. Brianna Collins and Jessica Morris are the students who came up with the concept and produced this year’s video.
RELATED: Highlands Broadcast Teams Up with Fort Thomas Firefighters
The Fire Prevention video will also appear on the video scoreboard at the October 6th Highlands game verses Dixie Heights football game. For more information of Fire Prevention please visit
www.FPW.org or
www.NFPA.org.
The October 6th football game will be a busy night as there will be another video that will make its premier at the game. Fort Thomas Fire Department has partnered with St. Elizabeth Hospitals and the Fort Thomas Independent School District to promote “Push Hard, Push Fast and Pass it On”.
This is a campaign to get the message out that “Hands only CPR can increase the survival rate of sudden cardiac arrest”. This event will include a CPR demonstration booth, Hands only CPR instructions, prizes, along with the video public service announcement.
By Chris Rust, Fort Thomas Firefighter/Paramedic
Fire Prevention Week began over 9 decades ago when President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed Sunday, October 9th, 1920 as Fire Prevention Day. This is what is stated in that proclamation: