Customize this sample press release and submit to any local media contacts/outlets you think may be interested in learning about and promoting National Electrical Safety Month. Follow up with all media by contacting assignment desks to confirm receipt of the release and to provide any additional information.
[Insert Organization/Company Name] to Celebrate National Electrical Safety Month
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: [Insert contact name]
[Insert Date] [Insert contact phone]
City, State—May is National Electrical Safety Month, and [Insert Company/Organization Name] is joining with the Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI) to raise awareness about potential home electrical hazards and the importance of electrical safety. This year’s campaign features the launch of the third edition of its National Electrical Safety Month publication, Electrical Safety Illustrated. The issue is titled“At Home and at Work: Make Electrical Safety Everyone’s Responsibility” and informs readers about the common electrical hazards present at home and in the workplace."
The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) estimates 47,700 home structure fires reported to U.S. fire departments each year involve some type of electrical failure or malfunction as a factor contributing to ignition. These fires result in 418 civilian deaths, 1,570 civilian injuries, and $1.4 billion in direct property damage. Awareness and education are critical to reduce the incidence of electrical fires, and ESFI sponsors National Electrical Safety Month each May to educate the public in order to reduce the number of electrically related fires, fatalities, injuries and property loss.
“Many electrocutions and home fires can be prevented by understanding basic electrical safety principles and by taking simple precautions,” said [Insert Company/Organization contact]. “While electrical safety should be a year round priority, we are grateful for National Electrical Safety Month as a platform to enforce critical safety measures to help prevent electrical fires and related injuries."
Featured content in Electrical Safety Illustrated includes an infographic titled, “Don’t Overload Your Home,” which illustrates the warning signs that indicate that your home electrical system could be overloaded; “Reaching to Safety,” an infographic about avoiding hazards associated with the misuse of extension cords; and an infographic on arc-fault circuit interrupters, which is advanced residential technology that can help prevent home electrical fires before they can start. Additional resources highlight common workplace electrical hazards and the importance of following safety procedures such as Lockout/Tag Out and "Test Before You Touch."
ESFI encourages the sharing of its campaign resources, and developed The National Electrical Safety Month 2016 Electrical Safety Advocate Guide to provide the resources necessary to raise awareness of electrically safe practices. Whether you want to educate a loved one or raise awareness in your community, school, or workplace, this guide provides step-by-step instructions on how to be an Electrical Safety Advocate and help champion ESFI’s cause of minimizing electrically-related deaths and injuries.
Electrical safety awareness and education among consumers, families, employees, and communities will prevent electrical fires, injuries, and fatalities. For ESFI’s complete collection of National Electrical Safety Month resources, and for more information on spring safety, visit www.esfi.org.
[Insert Organization boilerplate]
About ESFI:
The Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI) sponsors National Electrical Safety Month each May to increase public awareness of the electrical hazards around us at home, work, school, and play. ESFI is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated exclusively to promoting electrical safety. For more information about ESFI and electrical safety, visit www.esfi.org.