Sprinkler Age A Publication of the American Fire Sprinkler Association
Digital Campaign Educates Public About Residential Sprinklers
Fire departments and public safety advocates across North America united May 16-22, 2021, to participate in a digital campaign and conduct community outreach activities to increase awareness about how dangerous home fires can be and the benefits of home fire sprinklers. Home Fire Sprinkler Week is co-hosted by the Fire Sprinkler Initiative (FSI) project of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and the Home Fire Sprinkler Coalition (HFSC). The week coincided with HFSC’s 25th anniversary. In 1996, HFSC was founded to provide a singular focus on home fire sprinkler education. What began as a small group working with local and state fire services has grown into a national, independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit continuing its original mission. The American Fire Sprinkler Association (AFSA) is a founding member of HFSC.
“The 2021 Home Fire Sprinkler Week digital campaign was a success!” comments Peg Paul, HFSC communications manager. “Almost twice as many members of the fire service/advocates visited HFSC’s website and shared its content, compared to last year. We thank everyone who promoted and shared HFSC’s messages.”
Each day of Home Fire Sprinkler Week had a theme that focused on one aspect of residential fire safety: Monday – Fire is Fast, Tuesday – Fire Sprinklers are Part of Fire-Safe Communities, Wednesday – It’s Easy to Live with Home Fire Sprinklers, Thursday – Fire Sprinklers are Smart and Green, and Friday – Protect What you Value Most. The 2021 digital campaign included social media posts and media placements. Highlights of the campaign’s reach include:
• Digital campaign website: 4,653 visitors shared the content,
• Facebook reach: 60,049,
• Twitter mention reach: 905,239,
• YouTube impressions: 124,100, resulting in 24,568 video views,
• Consumer digital campaign: 1.9 million impressions and 27,852 video views, and
• Media outreach: 87 placements; 40.1 million impressions; 2,174 views and hits; and 60 click-throughs to the HFSC website, Home Fire Sprinkler Week, and Media Room.
This year, HFSC created a series of videos where HFSC President Lorraine Carli, NFPA vice president of outreach and advocacy, talked to HFSC board members about the coalition and the role each has played to support the coalition and promote the life-saving benefits of home fire sprinklers. AFSA President Bob Caputo, CFPS, participated in the interview series, and his video, along with the others, can be viewed online at homefiresprinkler.org/hfsc-25-years.
HFSC/NFPA Bringing Safety Home Award
In conjunction with Home Fire Sprinkler Week, the HFSC/NFPA 2021 Bringing Safety Home Award was presented to Paul Eichler, operations battalion chief with the Anne Arundel County Fire Department and volunteer member of the Dover Fire Department. In his honor, the Dover Fire Department receives a $1,000 grant to further home fire sprinkler advocacy and educational efforts.
The award was established to formally recognize a fire safety advocate who diligently promotes the importance of home fire sprinklers and uses HFSC educational tools, NFPA data, and Fire Sprinkler Initiative resources to bolster local, regional, and/or state education and advocacy efforts. For more information about the award and HFSC, visit homefiresprinkler.org.
