National Fire Prevention Week, October 9th to 15th
In observance of National Fire Prevention Week, which is the week of October 9th to the 15th, Nassau County Executive Edward P. Mangano today urged residents to take a few simple steps to protect themselves and their family from fires and other emergencies. The best way for county residents to protect their families from fire is to be ahead of the game, and take steps now to reduce fire danger in the home.
“Emergencies can happen anytime, anywhere,” said County Executive Mangano. “While firefighters and first responders are critical in fighting and responding to fires, our best tool for preventing fires is to educate the community. By taking a few simple steps now to get prepared, like making sure smoke alarms are working properly and placed throughout your home, you can keep your family safe.”
According to the nonprofit National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), more than 362,500 home fires were reported in the United States in 2009. These fires caused 12,650 civilian injuries, 2,565 civilian deaths, and $7.6 billion in direct damage. Nearly all of these deaths could have been prevented by taking a few simple precautions like having working smoke alarms and a home fire escape plan, keeping things that can burn away from the stove and always turning off space heaters before going to bed.
County Executive Mangano offers the following tips for protecting your home and family from fire:
For more information about Fire Prevention Week, please visit: www.nfpa.org