NATIONAL FIRE SAFETY WEEK 2012
Protecting People Most at Risk from Fire
National Fire Safety Week will be officially launched in Dublin Fire Brigade's Training Centre in the O'Brien Institute, Marino, Dublin 3 by Mr. Fergus O'Dowd, T.D., Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government on Monday 1st October.
National Fire Safety Week (1st – 8th October) is run jointly with the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service and is about enhancing fire safety, particularly in the home. This year's theme is "Protecting People Most at Risk from Fire". Both the very young and the elderly are particularly vulnerable and these groups account for almost half of the domestic fatalities.
National Fire Safety Week has its roots in the Great Chicago Fire, which occurred on October 8, 1871. The former American President, Calvin Coolidge proclaimed the first National Fire Prevention Week in 1925 in memory of those who perished in that Fire. Since then, in early October, it has been observed each year in countries around the world. 137 years on, the message regarding fire prevention and fire safety is as relevant today as ever it was.
- There are still homes with no smoke alarms.
- Vulnerable members of our community should not be overlooked.
- Most people who die in fires, die from smoke inhalation and not from burns and it can take as little as 3 minutes to die from smoke inhalation.
- A routine fire safety check only takes a few minutes but could mean the difference between life and death.
- Have a fire escape plan, teach it to your family and practice it regularly.
Play your part during National Fire Safety Week. Check out the rest of the website and find out how you can help to prevent and detect fires in your home. It could save your life one day.