Join the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and organizations across the nation this year in observing National Fire Prevention Week October 3 – 9, 2021.

The 2021 Fire Prevention Week campaign, “Learn the Sounds of Fire Safety!” works to educate everyone about the different sounds the smoke and carbon monoxide alarms make. Knowing what to do when an alarm sounds will keep you and your family safe. When an alarm makes noises – a beeping sound or a chirping sound – you must take action.

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.

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) is a global nonprofit organization, established in 1896, devoted to eliminating death, injury, property, and economic loss due to fire, electrical, and related hazards.

Since 1922, the NFPA has sponsored the public observance of Fire Prevention Week. In 1925, President Calvin Coolidge proclaimed Fire Prevention Week a national observance, making it the longest-running public health observance in our country. During Fire Prevention Week, children, adults, and teachers learn how to stay safe in case of a fire. Firefighters provide lifesaving public education in an effort to drastically decrease casualties caused by fires.

Fire Prevention Week is observed each year during the week of October 9th in commemoration of the Great Chicago Fire, which began on October 8, 1871, and caused devastating damage. This horrific conflagration killed more than 250 people, left 100,000 homeless, destroyed more than 17,400 structures, and burned more than 2,000 acres of land.

This year’s Fire Prevention Week campaign provides an ideal opportunity to educate workers about the importance of fire safety. NFPA has everything you need from ready-to-use press releases and safety tip sheets to printable activities, logos, and more. (The press release and event flyer are also available in Spanish.)

The NFPA provides plenty of Safety Tip Sheets that can be great resources to hand out to workers, post on bulletin boards, email out to staff, or even use to host a quick safety meeting.

In a fire, mere seconds can mean the difference between a safe escape and a tragedy. Fire safety education isn’t just for school children. Teenagers, adults, and the elderly are also at risk in fires, making it important for every member of the community to take some time every October during Fire Prevention Week to make sure they understand how to stay safe in case of a fire.

On the NFPA website, you’ll find loads of safety resources to make sure that every person knows what to do in case of a fire. You can find everything from apps to videos to printables and much more, to make sure your workers have the resources they need to keep their family and community safe.

Here are some great ideas of ways your organization can participate in Fire Safety Week this year:

• Host a family fire safety event or send home kid-friendly activities with employees. Stock up on educational brochures, stickers, fire hats, coloring books and sheet pads, posters, Sparky the Fire Dog value packs, and other materials that make great giveaways during your Fire Prevention Week.
• Host a short safety meeting on fire safety at work and at home.
• Include information about Fire Prevention Week in your organization’s newsletter.
• Post Fire Prevention posters or safety tip sheets around the workplace.
• Provide fire extinguisher use training to workers.
• Ensure all workplace fire extinguishers are fully charged, operating properly, and ready, if needed. Confirm that all fire extinguishers are readily accessible in the event of an emergency and annual inspections are scheduled.

If your company participates in Fire Prevention Week this year make sure to share the message on social media using the hashtag #FirePreventionWeek.

For more information about Fire Prevention Week, including access to tons of free resources, visit firepreventionweek.org.

Awareness campaigns, like Fire Prevention Week, offer a great opportunity to safety management, business owners and management to highlight the importance and commitment the organization has to safety, for workers, their families, and the community. It doesn’t take a lot of time, money, or resources to participate. At minimum, consider staff email, a brief safety meeting, or a poster on the central bulletin board.