Every year, more than 3,000 people die in home fires in the United States; most of whom are in homes without a working smoke alarm. To prevent these deaths, the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA), a division of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is sponsoring a nationwide Install. Inspect. Protect. Campaign designed to raise awareness about how working, properly installed smoke alarms can lower a person’s chances of dying in a fire.

The USFA’s Install. Inspect. Protect.Campaign is aimed at encouraging Americans to practice fire safety by 1) installing and maintaining smoke alarms and residential fire sprinklers, which can help save the lives of residents and fire fighters, 2) practicing fire escape plans, and 3) performing a home safety walk-through to remove fire hazards from the home. Install. Inspect. Protect. also recognizes firefighters and stresses the fact that the children of firefighters want their fathers and mothers to come home safely. The campaign is promoting fire safety through a free Campaign Toolkit disc; educational materials; print, radio and television PSAs; children’s materials, community organization-sponsored events and a consumer-friendly campaign Web site. When both smoke alarms and fire sprinklers are present in a home, the risk of dying in a fire is reduced by 82 percent, when compared to a residence without either. According to the National Fire Protection Association, between 2003-2006, almost two-thirds of home fire deaths resulted from fires in homes with no smoke alarms or no working smoke alarms. The USFA offers a few helpful tips on smoke alarms and sprinklers:

•  Place properly installed and maintained smoke alarms both inside and outside of sleeping areas and on every level of your home.
• Get smoke alarms that can sound fast. The U.S. Fire Administration recommends that every residence and place where people sleep be equipped with both ionization and photoelectric smoke alarms or dual sensor smoke alarms, which contain both ionization and photoelectric smoke sensors.
• Test smoke alarms monthly and change alkaline batteries at least once every year, or as instructed. You can use a date you already know, like your birthday or when you change your clocks as a reminder.
• If possible, install residential fire sprinklers in your home.
• Avoid painting or covering the fire sprinkler, because that will affect the sensitivity to heat.

Organizations in partnership with the U.S. Fire Administration’s Install. Inspect. Protect. Campaign include the American Fire Sprinkler Association, Burn Institute, Everyone Goes Home, Fire and Emergency Manufacturers and Services Association, Fire Department Safety Officers Association, Home Fire Sprinkler Coalition, Home Safety Council, International Association of Black Professional Firefighters, International Association of Fire Chiefs, International Association of Women in Fire & Emergency Services,NASFM Fire Research and Education Foundation, National Association of Hispanic Firefighters, National Association of State Fire Marshals, National Fallen Firefighters Foundation, National Fire Protection Association, National Fire Sprinkler Association, National Volunteer Fire Council, and SAFE KIDS Worldwide.

For more information on the Install. Inspect. Protect. Campaign and other fire
prevention information, please visit www.usfa.dhs.gov/smokealarms. Remember to Install. Inspect. Protect…Smoke Alarms Save Lives.

Home Fire Safey Tips

Home Sprinkler Fact Sheet

Coloring Sheets for Kids

REACT Crew Memorial Fund Established at Rockford Memorial Development Foundation

As our hearts ache at the loss of our fallen heroes Jim Dillow, Karen Hollis and Andy Olesen, Rockford Health System has established “The REACT Crew Memorial Fund” to support the families of the crew members. Contributions to the fund will be accepted by the Rockford Memorial Development Foundation and provided to the families. Contributions may be directed to: Rockford Memorial Development Foundation, 2400 North Rockton Avenue, Rockford, IL 61103 or by calling 815-971-4141 or by clicking on the link below.

“There has been an outpouring of support and compassion from co-workers, friends, community members, patients and our regional network of providers and responders,” said Helen Brooks, Rockford Health System VP of Community and Regional Development. “We have already begun to receive gifts in memory of Jim, Karen and Andy along with touching messages of condolence and acknowledgement of what outstanding people we have lost in this tragedy.”

Starting Nov. 15, 2012, bring strands of incandescent or LED holiday lights and extension cords in any condition to the Stillman Fire Station at 200 South Rural Street any time between 8 a.m. and 5:00 p.m Monday through Friday.