Promoting the Importance of Fire Sprinklers--Doing It Right Can Save Lives

T40
Promoting the Importance of Fire Sprinklers--Doing It Right Can Save Lives
Fred Durso, NFPA Vickie Pritchett, National Fire Sprinkler Association Jeff Norton, Viking Group Peg Paul, Home Fire Sprinkler Coalition

This session will present best practices for incorporating fire sprinkler messaging into home fire press releases, including how to mention sprinklers to the media tactfully following a fire in an un-sprinklered home. Also included will be tips on using social media to create widespread awareness of fire sprinkler stories and an explanation of how to communicate fire sprinkler saves (or success stories) in a positive way to the media emphasizing the "Fire sprinkler Saves Blog" - a consortium of fire sprinkler industry and AHJ's whose mission is to advocate and promote fire sprinkler saves and positive media.

Presented by:

Fred Durso, NFPA
Fred Durso is the Communications Manager for NFPA's Fire Sprinkler Initiative. He disseminates news on the home fire problem and effective tactics for sprinkler advocacy via NFPA's Fire Sprinkler Initiative site, blog, and newsletter. Durso also assists state sprinkler coalitions with their communications efforts. Durso joined NFPA in 2010 as a staff writer for NFPA Journal, the association's magazine. He has been working in the communications field for more than a decade, and his writing has received awards from Association Media and Publishing, the Pennsylvania Newspaper Association, and the Philadelphia Press Association. As a Disaster Action Team volunteer for the American Red Cross of Massachusetts since 2011, Durso frequently witnesses the physical and emotional devastation caused by home fires. Follow him on Twitter @FredDursoJr.

Vickie Pritchett, National Fire Sprinkler Association
Vickie Pritchett is the Director of Outreach & Government Relations of the NFSA. In this role, Vickie serves as the primary liaison to fire and public policy organizations, including CFSI, the Home Fire Sprinkler Coalition, the Phoenix Society, IAFC, USFA, NFPA, ICC, and Common Voices.

Jeff Norton, Viking Group
Jeff Norton is Vice President of Marketing for the Viking Group. Jeff coordinates the "Sprinkler Saves" blog, which is a consortium of fire sprinkler industry and AHJs whose mission is to advocate and promote fire sprinkler saves and positive media. Visit this blog, sign up with your email, and you will quickly be receiving a press release of every sprinkler save that is discovered by this consortium.

Peg Paul, Home Fire Sprinkler Coalition
Peg Paul has been the communications manager for the Home Fire Sprinkler Coalition (HFSC) since 1997. She has worked with HFSC's board to develop educational programs and materials for members of the home building industry, fire service, water purveyors, real estate and insurance agents and consumers. Peg currently serves on the IAFC Fire and Life Safety Section and Phoenix Society boards. Peg is proud to live in a home protected by fire sprinklers. HFSC's is a non-profit 501C(3) who's mission is to provide accurate information to the public about the life-saving value of residential fire sprinkler protection, particularly in new construction of one- and two-family dwellings. Board Members include representative from the American Fire Sprinkler Association (AFSA), Canadian Automatic Sprinkler Association (CASA), FM Global, International Association of Fire Chiefs, National Association of State Fire Marshals, National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF), National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), National Fire Sprinkler Association (NFSA), National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC), Phoenix Society for Burn Survivors, State Farm Insurance, Underwriters Laboratories and U.S. Fire Administration.