NFPA Journal - Summer 2021 - 30

Outreach by Lorraine Carli

ADVOCACY,
LEGISLATION,
AND PUBLIC
EDUCATION

Consistency Matters
HOW AN NFPA COMMITTEE ENSURES THAT PUBLIC SAFETY MESSAGING IS CONSISTENT
ACROSS JURISDICTIONS AND FROM COUNTRY TO COUNTRY

fter a home fire occurs,

guide, the committee considered 45
you've probably noticed
proposals for changes. It worked with
some similarities between
technical and data experts to understand
what the public informathe rationale and validity behind the
tion officers (PIOs) for the
proposal, and ultimately voted to include
local fire departments say to the media.
it, reject it, or study it further. The 2020
When a PIO adds relevant safety messages
version contains new chapters on pet
to their overview of a fire incident, the
safety and youth fire setters, as well as
content of those messages is virtually the
nine new sections within existing chapters
same as it is when it's delivered by any
on topics that have become more promiother department. And that's no accident.
nent for safety professionals.
PIOs consistently say things like
One change expanded home fire
" working smoke alarms save lives " and
escape messages for people with disabil " everyone should have smoke alarms on
ities. There was also a significant change
Public information
every level of their home, inside each
from a previous stance against the use
officers for fire
sleeping room and outside each sleepof turkey fryers, one that acknowledged
departments around
ing area. " Maybe you notice that most
technological advances that provide
the country deliver
say " level " as opposed to " floor, " a nuance
safer frying methods requiring signifisafety messages that
that is necessary because various spoken
cantly less oil, or even none at all. Carbon
are almost identical,
languages interpret the two words differmonoxide messaging, which addresses a
thanks to an NFPA
ently. Think about what could happen if
deadly problem that plagues communicommittee.
you said " put a smoke alarm on every
ties, received the most comments. That
floor " -it could be misconstrued to mean
section also saw the most changes, includthe actual floor.
ing a clarification of how far a portable
This consistency in the detail of safety
generator should be located from an
messages across the US and in countries
opening such as a door or window. The
around the world is thanks to the work of the NFPA Educational change aligns the installation of portable generators with data
Messages Advisory Committee, or EMAC, which creates a desk from the US Consumer Product Safety Commission, which says
reference on a range of educational messages for safety profes- the distance should be at least 20 feet from an opening.
sionals that provides core messages and offers suggestions for
To maintain the consistency of messaging delivered by
using those messages with various audiences. The EMAC has public educators, it is important that members of the safety
existed in one form or another for about 20 years, and today the community contribute to the further development of the desk
committee consists of 15 individuals representing organizations reference. Its value comes from the contributions of those who
that play a role in fire safety. The committee meets periodically know these issues and engage regularly with the public. The
to review submissions to the guide for new fire, life, and elec- next round of comments will begin in June, and a submittal
trical safety messages, as well as changes to current messages. form will be posted at that time. If you have thoughts for incluAnyone, including EMAC members, can suggest language sions, omissions, or changes, we want to hear from you.
changes or introduce new topics, a process that accommodates
For more information on EMAC and to download the latest
changing times, new and emerging technologies, and topics desk reference, visit nfpa.org/emac. To hear a recent NFPA
that have attracted the attention of the safety world.
Podcast on EMAC, visit nfpa.org/podcast.
The 2020 desk reference is available in English and French
and will be available in Spanish later this year. For this latest LORRAINE CARLI is vice president of Outreach and Advocacy for NFPA.

MICHAEL HOEWELER

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4/29/21 9:46 AM

http://www.nfpa.org/emac http://www.nfpa.org/podcast

NFPA Journal - Summer 2021

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of NFPA Journal - Summer 2021