‘Great escape’ focus of Fire Prevention Week

The “Great Escape” is coming soon to Emo residents as part of Fire Prevention Week (Oct. 4-10).
It is a concerted effort to get citizens across North America actively involved in fire safety, especially the importance of having an escape route from their home.
The Emo Fire Department is strongly encouraging all residents to develop home escape plans and rehearse them Wednesday, Oct. 7 at 6 p.m. during the “Great Escape.”
While this is a fun activity for entire families to participate in during Fire Prevention Week, it also could save their lives, Fire Chief Robin Johnson stressed.
If a fire breaks out in your home, you and your family only will have a few minutes to get out safely. Planning and practising an escape route ensures everyone in the household will know how to use that small window of opportunity effectively.
The NFPA, the official sponsor of Fire Prevention Week for more than 70 years, developed the “Great Escape” theme in response to results of its 1997 survey that showed only 16 percent of respondents who had escape plans actually rehearsed them.
These findings demonstrate that most people are not well prepared if a fire occurred in their home.
the NFPA’s hope is that the ‘Great Escape’ motivates people to begin thinking about fire safety in a positive, proactive way, and to start practising their home escape plans at least twice a year.
In addition to the “Great Escape” fire drill on Oct. 7, the Emo Fire Department is inviting residents to participate in a North America-wide contest. Everyone who develops a home escape plan may submit it to Chief Johnson, who will select one plan and forward it to the NFPA.
He also was at Donald Young School on Tuesday with “Sparky” the safety dog, visiting each classroom to hand out entry forms to the students.
Each student will draw an escape plan from their own home.
In November, the NFPA will announce one randomly-selected grand prize winner who will receive a trip for up to four people to Walt Disney World in Florida.
When developing a home fire escape plan, Chief Johnson encourages all participants to use the mapping grid provided by the Emo Fire Department.
The grid, which can be picked up at the local fire station, includes the official contest entry form.
The “Great Escape” offers a wealth of opportunities for Emo residents of all ages to take part in Fire Prevention Week this year, said Chief Johnson.
“We look forward to sharing these events with the community and urge everyone to join in the fun,” he added.