NFPA Journal - September/October 2020 - 24

Outreach by Lorraine Carli

ADVOCACY,
LEGISLATION,
AND PUBLIC
EDUCATION

Rolling With It
THE CORONAVIRUS SITUATION PRESENTED FIRE PREVENTION WEEK ORGANIZERS
WITH A HOST OF CHALLENGES. SO THEY GOT CREATIVE.

ith the ongoing COVID-

in their communities; the drive-by event
19 pandemic forcing most
takes the idea a step further by handing
people in the United States
out information along the route. Webinar
to adjust their routines,
participants suggested that departments
it probably comes as no
could use community data to target the
surprise that this year's Fire Prevention
truck events at neighborhoods with
Week (FPW) will also look a bit different
higher numbers of fires.  
in many communities.
 Another great idea is to develop and
That doesn't mean the event will have
utilize a range of new community partany less impact. If anything, the unique
nerships that could help spread the
situation has forced us to get creative and
FPW message. For instance, local restauadopt a few innovative approaches that, I
rants and food-delivery services could
believe, will boost awareness and particbring information directly into homes
ipation in FPW activities both this year
by including it on pizza boxes, putting
The pressure was on
and into the future.  
it in grocery bags, or finding other ways
to do things differently
 This year's FPW (nfpa.org/fpw), slated
to deliver handouts. Local theaters and
while making sure
for October 4-10, takes on the threat of
event venues could include key messages
important safety
cooking fires with its theme of "Serve Up
on marquees to add to community visibilmessages reached
Fire Safety in the Kitchen!TM" Cooking
ity while providing an awesome backdrop
the public.
fires are the leading cause of home fires
for selfies worthy of social media sharing. 
in the US and the second-leading cause of
 In addition to those methods, NFPA
home fire deaths. The theme, which was
has also been hard at work developing
chosen prior to the pandemic, has added
digital assets to support this year's FPW.
relevance in 2020: with most  people
Those include a full suite of sharable
forced to stay home, the number of us cooking at home has also social media cards, as well as ramped-up, curriculum-based
increased, and fire departments across the country are anecdot- learning activities to teach and entertain young children,
ally reporting an uptick in kitchen fire incidents.
whether they're in a classroom or at home. We have even seen
While the pandemic may have inadvertently given our theme safety departments take the lead in creating their own digital
added significance, the realities of COVID-19 made it apparent assets and online contests to promote our theme of safe cookthat most of our tried-and-true approaches to FPW messaging- ing behavior. They have also encouraged their staffs, family
things like open houses at fire stations and school events-were members, and communities to post their own photos, videos,
unlikely to occur. The pressure was on to do things differently and even TikTok dance moves that amplify our safety messages.
while ensuring that the important cooking-safety messages
While FPW may be a little unconventional this year, the
reached the public. So we started brainstorming.
importance of the effort to make our communities safer remains
This summer, NFPA held a well-attended webinar with our greater than ever. Every department and public safety organieducation partners to discuss new twists to use to get import- zation was thrown a curveball in 2020, but that doesn't mean
ant FPW information out to the public, while also maintaining we can't do something with it-let's use this opportunity to take
social distance. One idea I love is the drive-by fire-safety open a swing at something new. I think we may connect with some
house. Instead of inviting parents and kids into the fire station tactics that not only work, but will become staples in outreach
to see the trucks and get FPW material, why not bring the truck efforts for years to come.
and material to them? Early in the pandemic, many fire departments participated in birthday parades and other celebrations LORRAINE CARLI is vice president of outreach and advocacy for NFPA.

MICHAEL HOEWELER

W

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NFPA Journal - September/October 2020

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