Bottom Line: Change Comes to Washington – What Does This Mean for Safety Advocates?

By Patricia Adkins
Chief Operating Officer, Home Safety Council
February 2009

As we move into 2009, many exciting events are happening in our nation’s capital -- most notably, the Inauguration of the 44th President of the United States, Barack Obama. The new Administration promises to bring change to Washington and with that brings a change in how we approach our policy agenda. The Home Safety Council continues to believe that we have a process and approach that will achieve success in this new political climate.

The Obama Administration has provided its position on healthcare and, while chronic disease prevention and other healthcare issues are included, unintentional injury remains a missing element. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report that unintentional injury is the leading cause of death for individuals between the ages of 1 and 44, and it is the fifth leading cause of death in the United States -- recognition of these facts needs more prominence on the healthcare reform agenda.

The 2008 Presidential election was unique and historic for many reasons and it was especially so for the fire service. Vice President Joe Biden has been a tireless champion for the fire community and we look forward to continuing our work with him. He was a Founding Member of the Congressional Fire Services Caucus in 1989 and co-chaired the Caucus from 2005-2007.

And fire safety is on the mind of Congress, too. In the next few weeks, Congress will consider the $825 billion economic stimulus package. This must-pass bill should also help provide millions of dollars to help ensure fire safety and disaster preparedness in communities across the nation.

We have begun our 2009 advocacy by sending a letter to President Obama outlining our priorities and offering our support and assistance to him as he identifies and implements healthcare reforms and prevention programs that ultimately save money.

Challenges to our agenda still exist, but we are also presented with new opportunities from the 111th Congress and the new Administration. We are excited about what this means for the Home Safety Council, Expert Network members, and constituents across America. This is a collective effort and we are counting on you to help HSC realize its 2009 agenda when the call to action goes out to send an email, sign on to a letter, or make a phone call.

The 2009 Home Safety Council policy agenda consists of the following:

1. Fire Advocacy Must Continue

Nine out of 10 fire deaths in America occur at home where people feel safest. We know we must continue education outreach to code officials, homebuilders, homeowners, and others about the benefits of residential fire sprinklers. Recent research done by HSC revealed that 41 percent of adults do not know that fire sprinklers are a safety option for their home.

In 2008, HSC developed a survey for the Expert Network to determine the members’ priorities for the incoming Administration. This survey was a first-time opportunity for HSC to address issues at a national level. More than 470 members responded and the results reflect the demographic and geographic diversity that makes the Expert Network (EN) a potentially powerful advocacy tool for home safety and injury prevention issues.

When asked to submit an additional question to the Presidential candidates, fire and fire related issues were the topics of choice for a large number of respondents. Many questions focused on what the next Administration would do to increase funding and improve staffing for fire services, EMTs, and emergency preparedness in local communities. In the 111th Congress, HSC and its fire safety partners will work to continue FIRE Act funding and continue to educate and raise awareness about the benefits of residential fire sprinklers.

2. Funding for Older Adult Falls Prevention

The 110th Congress took a major step forward in preventing older adult falls by enacting P.L. 110-202, the Safety of Seniors Act of 2007. The law allows the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services to conduct research to improve the identification of older adults who have a high risk of falls, to design and support public education campaigns directed to older adults, their families, and healthcare providers, and to award demonstration grants to national and local organizations that focus on reducing and preventing falls.

HSC has requested that President Obama’s FY 2010 budget include funding to significantly increase falls prevention activities coordinated by the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control (NCIPC) at CDC.

3. Unintentional Injuries Must Be Included Under Prevention Umbrella

The Home Safety Council believes that unintentional injuries are largely preventable. Among older adults, falls-related healthcare costs alone are estimated at $19 billion annually by the CDC; and "accidents" are the fifth leading cause of death, according to the National Center for Health Statistics.

Poisonings are another example of how injuries affect constituents across the country. According to the CDC, poisonings led to $26 billion in medical expenses in 2000 and accounted for 6% of the economic costs of all injuries in the United States. Unintentional poisoning death rates have been rising steadily since 1992. They are second only to deaths caused by motor vehicle crashes.

This year, HSC joins with the Campaign for Public Health and America’s Trust for Health to encourage the new Administration to recognize and fund evidence-based prevention programs.

4. Reach Families Through the Home Safety Literacy Project

With more than 93 million adults in the United States reading below basic levels in English, many adults who care for children and older loved ones often miss the information and tools available to prevent injuries and deaths in homes across America.

HSC, in conjunction with ProLiteracy, has developed the Home Safety Literacy Project to reach targeted citizens. The Literacy Project provides effective, low-cost, highly-illustrated alternatives to text-heavy public safety handouts.

To date, HSC has developed disaster and fire preparedness, as well as poison safety kits which are used in local adult literacy-based programs with support from fire departments and other community safety experts. We hope that President Obama and his Administration will work with HSC and other like-minded organizations on family safety and preparedness and utilize programs already in place.

We welcome any feedback, or knowledge of resources you may have related to our agenda as we work together to safeguard homes and families across the country.

Learn more about HSC’s Public Policy activities Patricia Adkins is the Chief Operating Officer of the Home Safety Council