According to the National
Fire Protection Association, too few people practice a
home fire escape plan. Tragically, that lack of planning
can prove deadly in a home fire. That's why NFPA is sponsoring
a three-year public safety campaign called "Fire Drills:
The Great Escape!" Started in 1998, "The Great Escape"
encourages home fire escape planning and practice, ensuring
that people know what to do in a home fire and can escape
safely.
"The Great Escape" centers
around two fun and potentially life-saving events that
get people actively involved in fire safety:
- "The Great Escape" Fire
Drill - On October 6, 1999, at 7:00 p.m., fire
departments throughout North America will invite local
residents to practice their home fire escape plans
and exit their homes at the same time. (While the
official drill time is 7:00 p.m., feel free to change
the time to suit local needs).
-
"The Great Escape"
Contests - Building off "The Great Escape" fire
drill, there are two grand prize contests in 1999.
Entrants must develop a home fire escape plan, practice
it, and then submit their plan to a participating
local fire deparment or station. Each fire department
or station will select one plan for entry into the
appropriate contest.
"The Great Escape"
Works! - The results of last year's campaign prove
that "The Great Escape" is already working. Nearly 250,000
families participated in "The Great Escape" last October,
with 25 lives saved as a direct result of their participation.
And that's just the beginning! NFPA expects participation
- and the number of lives saved - will continue to increase
over the next two years, making North Americans safer
from fire than ever before.
"The Great Escape" will
be even easier to carry out this year. Let's make it a
big success in your community!
