ARLINGTON, Va. — Each season of the year has unique fire and electrical safety dangers that are related to common seasonal activities. With that in mind, the Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI) has developed the 4 Seasons of Safety campaign to educate the public about basic fire and electricity concepts and provide critical information to help identify and prevent fire and electrical safety hazards.
The multi-faceted 4 Seasons of Safety campaign features an in-school component developed in accordance with national standards, with safety tips, lessons and activities for children in grades 3-5. “Targeting school-aged children will not only foster safe practices at an early age, but also reinforce safety messages for their parents and the entire family,” said ESFI President Brett Brenner.
ESFI will also engage in outreach to educate the public at large about how to recognize and avoid season-specific safety hazards. With the holidays fast approaching, this season’s focus is on ESFI’s annual holiday safety campaign, which encourages families and communities across the country to Make Safety a Tradition.
The theme of this year’s holiday safety campaign is “Deck the Halls Safely for All,” and offers important information about safe decorating practices, with life-saving tips on avoiding the electrical hazards that are most common during this time of year. “A recent ESFI survey indicates that 86 percent of families celebrate a winter holiday by decorating their homes, which demonstrates the need to educate the public about the season’s inherent fire and electrical hazards,” said Brenner.
According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), holiday lights are involved in an estimated average of 160 reported home fires per year, and Christmas trees account for an additional 230 fires each year. Together these fires result in an average of 13 civilian deaths, 34 injuries and $26.3 million in direct property damage per year.
This year’s Make Safety a Tradition: “Deck the Halls Safely for All” toolkit will help families enjoy a holiday home without the hazards, and includes helpful tip sheets on purchasing holiday lights, extension cord safety, a “Naughty or Nice” holiday décor safety checklist, preparing your home for visitors and more.
Other free online resources from ESFI include fact sheets on smoke alarm safety, safe space heater use, and important safety devices including ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs) and tamper resistant receptacles (TRRs). ESFI’s seasonal website also features infographics, statistics and safety reminders to help keep families and communities safe this season. For younger audiences, ESFI’s online Kids’ Corner reinforces holiday safety concepts through animated videos and games.
Visit www.esfi.org to download ESFI’s complimentary 2013 Holiday Toolkit and 4 Seasons of Safety program resources to keep your family safe during the holidays and all year long.
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