Students to Converge on Capitol Hill for National Campus Fire Safety Month™ 2009
National Leaders Urge Schools to Educate Students on Fire Safety
04.28.2009 – BELCHERTOWN, MA - With an estimated 18 million students currently attending colleges and universities nationwide, knowing the steps on how to prevent or escape a fire can be lifesaving. And getting this information into the hands - and into the heads - of students, parents, landlords and the schools is as critical as ever.
National Campus Fire Safety Month 2009 (www.campusfiresafetymonth.org) will be launched in Washington, DC, on September 17, 2009. As part of this launch, college students will meet with Congress and encourage schools across the country to host fire safety courses for its own students. This effort is being led by a coalition of campus fire safety organizations that includes Campus Firewatch (www.campus-firewatch.com), the Ohio Fire Safety Coalition (www.ohiofsc.org), and the Congressional Fire Services Institute (www.cfsi.org) along with numerous supporting organizations.
Now in its fifth year, National Campus Fire Safety Month has provided an opportunity for schools and communities across the nation during September to educate students about the dangers of fire and their role in creating a fire-safe environment. Serving as the Congressional Co-Sponsors are Senator Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ), Senator Susan Collins (R-ME), Congressman Bill Pascrell (D-NJ-8), and Congressman Joe Wilson (R-SC-2).
“Fire safety is an important issue on college campuses,” Sen. Frank Lautenberg said. “I hope National Campus Fire Safety Month will inspire colleges and universities around the country to improve their fire alarm systems and provide thorough fire safety education to all its students on a regular basis.”
“I am pleased to join with my colleagues in launching National Campus Fire Safety Month,” Sen. Collins added. “Fire safety on America’s college campuses should be a priority and efforts, such as National Campus Fire Safety Month, help raise awareness about this serious and potentially life-threatening issue.”
“National Campus Fire Safety Month represents a unique opportunity to bring like-minded individuals and students from all across the country who are concerned about campus fire safety to our nation’s Capitol to meet and help educate Members of Congress on this critical issue,” observed Rep. Pascrell. “Their work is crucial as we work to ensure that our college campuses are a safe and secure learning environment for the next generation of American leaders.”
“The safety of a child is every parent’s number one priority,” said Rep. Wilson. “As a father of four, I am honored to stand with my colleagues in Congress to help promote efforts to educate students, parents, and our school administrators on the importance of fire safety. I am particularly grateful that so many parents and students as well as fire safety advocates and officials have chosen to get involved. Their leadership is vital to the success of our efforts.”
Since January 2000, 134 students have died in campus related fires, according to statistics compiled by Campus Firewatch. Over 80 percent of those deaths were in off campus housing. Four common factors in these deadly fires were a lack of automatic fire sprinklers, missing or disabled smoke alarms, careless disposal of smoking materials and impaired judgment from alcohol consumption.
“The value of National Campus Fire Safety Month comes from everyone joining together, both in Washington and across the nation, to make students, parents, schools and communities aware of the importance of fire safety on our campuses,” said Ed Comeau, publisher of Campus Firewatch. “By working together we can teach students what they need to protect themselves, not only for the time that they are in school but for the rest of their lives. As this year''s motto says, ‘Fire Safety - It’s Part of Living.’”
National Campus Fire Safety Month started in 2005 with a handful of states issuing proclamations. It has since grown to 32 states issuing proclamations along with resolutions being passed in the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate. Eight states have issued proclamations already in 2009 and resolutions have been introduced in the 111th Congress.
Campus Firewatch is a social enterprise focusing solely on campus fire safety. For more information, visit our website at www.campus-firewatch.com
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- News Facts
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- An estimated 18 million students currently attending colleges and universities nationwide
- Since January 2000, 134 students have died in campus related fires, according to statistics compiled by Campus Firewatch.
- Over 80 percent of those deaths were in off campus housing.
- Four common factors in these deadly fires were a lack of automatic fire sprinklers, missing or disabled smoke alarms, careless disposal of smoking materials and impaired judgment from alcohol consumption.
- National Campus Fire Safety Month 2009 will be launched in Washington, DC, on September 17, 2009.
- Resource Links
- National Campus Fire Safety Month 2009
- Sample Legislation and How to Contact Your Congressmen
- Sign Up for National Campus Fire Safety Month Event Updates
- Want to Help Spread Word on Fire Safety at Your School?
- Would Your School Like to Join Us in DC?
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- Fire, Safety, College, Congress, Campus, Rental, Landlords, Alarm, Health, Safety, North Carolina University, South Carolina University, University of Southern California
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Students from USC on Capitol Hill for the launch of National Campus Fire Safety Month 2008.
Students from the University of South Carolina on Capitol Hill for the launch of National Campus Fire Safety Month.
Parent Advocate Edye Smith with students from UNC on Capitol Hill for the launch of National Campus Fire Safety Month.
Students from the University of North Carolina, parents and fire officials on Capitol Hill for the launch of National Campus Fire Safety Month.
Shawn Longerich, director of the People's Burn Foundation with students from the University of North Carolina on Capitol Hill during the launch of National Campus Fire Safety Month.
SStudents in Cheshire in the UK for the launch of Campus Fire Safety Month. The United States flag was flown over the U.S. Capitol Building.
Students in Cheshire in the UK getting ready for their launch of Campus Fire Safety Month. They are holding 18 balloons, each one representing one of the US student fire deaths in 2007-2008.
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