2005: Year in Review

The Home Safety Council’s Year on Capitol Hill

HSC had a busy year on the public affairs front. Highlights include HSC’s leadership role in the expansion of the Falls Free Coalition and its Working Groups, a coalition of more than 58 organizations dedicated to preventing falls among older adults; steering the re-introduction of the Keeping Seniors Safe from Falls Act of 2005 (S. 1531), legislation aimed at reducing falls; and expanding our visibility on Capitol Hill.

HSC raised its profile on Capitol Hill by participating in various events, such as the Senate Health Care Fair and the Senate Elder Care Fair. These two annual events draw more than 1,200 Senate staffers and employees to tour over 30 health-related exhibits. On the House of Representatives side, HSC did its second annual safety presentation to the children at the Congressional Day Care Center. The children were shown the new, interactive Code Red Rover video and had their pictures taken with Rover the Home Safety Hound.

Home Safety Month was celebrated in June and was an integral part in growing HSC’s credibility and visibility. HSC gave a healthcare briefing to over 50 staffers and employees, as part of a monthly program sponsored by the Senate Office of Education and Training. During the Salute to Home Safety Awards Dinner, the inaugural Congressional Leadership Awards were presented to Senator Arlen Specter (R-PA) and Representative Robert Andrews (D-NJ) for their leadership on home safety and injury prevention issues.

For National Preparedness Month, HSC joined forces with Citizen Corps and the 125 members of the National Preparedness Month Coalition. At the September launch, HSC introduced its new Great Safety Adventure preparedness publication which was distributed nationally to over 9,500 children and caregivers during the GSA tours. For Fire Prevention Month in October, HSC supported the efforts of the Congressional Fire Services Institute during its Congressional Fire Services Institute Staffer Training Day event. The group of over 60 staffers was introduced to HSC’s new Fire Safety Literacy materials and the new “Be Safe and Sound” publication.

Caption: Above left: Secretary of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff and Bonnie McElveen-Hunter , Chair of the American Red Cross, address the crowd at the National Preparedness Launch. Above Center: HSC’s Chief Operating Officer, Patricia Adkins, presents Rep. Rob Andrews (D-NJ-1st) with his Congressional Leadership Award. Above Right: Patricia Adkins and Faye Cothren at the 2005 Senate Health Fair.