Bottom Line: Have You Requested Your Free Fire Sprinkler Education Materials?

By Peg Paul
Home Fire Sprinkler Coalition Communications Manager
December 2008

I probably have the best job in the world. I spend most of my time working with dedicated and passionate community advocates who are determined to make homes safer from fire. When I’m not doing that, I’m partnering with a local fire department to shoot an educational video or present a live side-by-side fire and sprinkler demonstration.

Each day brings a new challenge and a new friend, but one thing is always the same: fire and life safety advocates need fire sprinkler educational materials that they can have confidence using, and I’m able to provide exactly that – at no charge. What could be better?

As communications manager for the nonprofit Home Fire Sprinkler Coalition (HFSC), my job is to support fire and life safety educators who are working to increase awareness of residential sprinklers within their communities.

Over the years, we’ve been able to develop and provide targeted teaching tools that specifically address the informational needs of virtually everyone in the community. And we’re able to share such a diverse library of resources because many of our ideas have earned FEMA Fire Prevention & Safety Grant funding.

If your fire department or agency has not yet tapped into HFSC’s resources, you’re missing out on an opportunity to improve your community’s understanding of the life-saving value of home fire sprinklers. Here’s a sampling of what we have to offer – all are yours for the asking:

Built for Life Fire Department Program – The Home Safety Council’s National Fire and Life Safety Survey of U.S. fire chiefs revealed that while 85 percent of fire departments provide public education, only 12 percent have dedicated personnel to carry it out. And home fire sprinkler education is a focus of only six percent of departments. HFSC launched the Built for Life Fire Department Program in 2008 as a way to equip U.S. fire departments with the information and materials they need to make home fire sprinkler education a focus of their educational outreach. The program provides free materials and recognition for participating fire departments.

Side-by-Side Fire and Sprinkler Burn Demonstration Kit – HFSC’s newest educational tool is a comprehensive guide to help fire departments build their own demonstration units and use them in effective local educational presentations. From tools and materials to construction and storage of the units to educational outreach and evaluation, this kit has everything you need to present a dramatic fire and sprinkler burn demonstration. Fire departments that sign up for the Built for Life Fire Department Program will be the first in the nation to receive this kit.

Local Officials Materials – In direct response to requests from the fire service, HFSC recently developed educational materials specifically designed to answer the unique questions local officials most frequently have about sprinklers. These tools include an informative new DVD.

Public Educators Kit – This is one-stop shopping at its finest. HFSC’s free kit includes a CD-Rom with customizable printouts of HFSC’s most popular print materials and a range of other valuable downloads, such as our flashover chart. A DVD contains most of HFSC’s educational videos and animations. If you prefer, you can download the materials from our web site.

Living with Sprinklers – In recent years, installing fire sprinklers in new homes has become much more common. We’ve got the tools you need to ensure that residents of sprinklered homes understand the technology that protects their homes. We offer a laminated hangtag for the sprinkler riser and a DVD.

Built for Life Kit – This is among HFSC’s most widely used materials. The kit contains information to inspire homebuilders and developers to offer sprinklers to their customers as well as marketing tools to help new homebuyers recognize the added value of a sprinklered home.

Sprinkler Smarts – HFSC also has a comprehensive web site designed to interest children in home fire safety and inform them about fire sprinkler protection. In addition to fun games and activities, the site includes instruction for parents and educational materials for use by teachers and fire service educators. Visit the site at SprinklerSmarts.org. (link to: www.sprinklersmarts.org)

Of course there is much more, and all of it is available to you at no charge. Please visit HFSC’s Web site at HomeFireSprinkler.org today.

In addition, tap into the valuable resources of Common Voices, a coalition of advocates who have been personally affected by fire. Download the group’s latest public service announcements at FireAdvocates.org. There is no charge to use them.

The Home Fire Sprinkler Coalition (HFSC) is a national nonprofit, 501(c)(3) organization working since 1996 to raise awareness about the life-saving value of installing fire sprinklers in new construction of one- and two-family homes. Peg Paul is HFSC’s communications manager. She and her family and several pets live in a home protected by a fire sprinkler system.