Vision 2020 Media tools
Fact Sheet:
This is an example of a Fact Sheet prepared by the nonprofit Home Fire Sprinkler Coalition (HFSC) to help people understand the prevention value of installing home fire sprinkler systems.
Fact sheets like this can supplement your media relations and government relations outreach.
Talking Points:
This is an example of Talking Points that can be used when doing a media interview. In this case, the talking points are focused on the cascading impact that fire has on the entire community. You might also want to create talking points on the value of investing in local fire prevention, local fire statistics, increased use of home fire sprinkler systems, etc.
- Let’s look at an example of a single fire at a 10,000 square foot warehouse that employees 50 people. When fire strikes a local business, the damage goes well beyond the building. Even if everyone gets out safely and the building is still standing, the loss is tremendous.
- How long will it take for repairs to be made? How long until the business is up and running again? How long until the employees are back to work?
- What were the insurance costs to replace the valuable equipment and furnishings and to repair the building?
- What is the environmental impact of the fire? Think about the use of tens of thousands of gallons of water used to extinguish it, and the toxic run-off that results. Think about the pollution from the burning contents and the impact of damaged materials getting dumped into our landfills.
- What about the impact this closed business has on other local enterprise? Think of the companies that rely on this business so they can stay in business – manufacturers and suppliers whose products won’t be purchased until the business is working again, restaurants that won’t be selling lunches to workers, newspapers and other media that won’t be selling advertisements to promote this business, and retail stores that will lose sales while the employees are out of work and don’t have spending money.
- Local social services will be impacted as well. With 50 people suddenly and unexpectedly unemployed, most won’t have savings to stay afloat. There will be a drain on agencies, nonprofit groups and public assistance.
- These examples remind us that when fire strikes our focus tends to be on injuries and fatalities, which are tragic. But the tragedy of fire is far reaching.
- A strong, sustained and comprehensive fire prevention program is the best way to protect our community from fire loss.
Fill-in News Release:
This is an example of a News Release. This release announces the successful result of a prevention program. You can tailor the template by typing your department information in the parentheses and by revising the content to suit your particular news.
{DATE}
Contact: {YOUR SPOKESPERSON’S NAME, TITLE, AGENCY, DIRECT PHONE NUMBER, E-MAIL ADDRESS}
9-Year-Old {YOUR COMMUNITY} Child Credited with Saving Family from Fire
{YOUR COMMUNITY} {DATE} – When the smoke alarm began to beep early yesterday morning, 9-year-old Manny Gomez woke up and knew exactly what to do. He yelled, “Fire!” and then rolled out of bed onto the floor, crawling on his hands and knees toward the hallway. His parents had also awakened, and together they and Manny’s infant brother immediately went outside, where they called 9-1-1.
Manny and his family were saved because last week the {YOUR FIRE DEPARTMENT} public education officer Vicki Jones visited the Murray Street Elementary School, where Manny is in the 3rd Grade. Officer Jones spent half a day at the school, working with the children by age group to help them learn appropriate ways to be safe from home fires.
In Manny’s group, the children learned about the importance of having working smoke alarms on each level and how to plan and practice home fire drills with their families. The {YOUR SPONSOR} store donated a new long-life smoke alarm with a non-removable battery to each child. In addition, Officer Jones helped the children draw escape plans they could practice later at home.
“Manny is a hero,” says {YOUR FIRE DEPARTMENT SPOKESPERSON}. “Following the fire prevention program at his school, he went home and told his parents what he’d learned and pointed out that they did not have any working smoke alarms. He insisted on installing the new smoke alarm he received at school in the hallway outside their bedrooms and practicing their escape plan.
“Just one week later, an electrical arc started a fire in the single-story home,” {YOUR FIRE DEPARTMENT SPOKESPERSON} continues. “Thanks to Manny, the entire Gomez family was alerted to the fire and knew how to escape to safety.”
{YOUR FIRE DEPARTMENT SPOKESPERSON} also praised the {YOUR SPONSOR} store for their generosity in supporting the fire prevention education efforts of the {YOUR FIRE DEPARTMENT}.
You can learn more about home fire safety by visiting the {YOUR FIRE DEPARTMENT} website at URL}.com
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Fill-in Media Advisory:
This is an example of a Media Advisory. This advisory announces a fire department open house. You can tailor the template by typing your department information in the parentheses and by revising the content to suit your community and event.
{DATE}
Contact: {YOUR SPOKESPERSON’S NAME, TITLE, AGENCY, DIRECT PHONE NUMBER, E-MAIL ADDRESS}
{YOUR FIRE DEPARTMENT} Will Host a Fire Prevention Open House
To Introduce {YOUR COMMUNITY} Residents to Elected Officials
WHO: {YOUR FIRE DEPARTMENT} and the following {YOUR COMMUNITY} elected officials: {LIST OFFICIALS BY NAME AND TITLE}
WHAT: An informal open house designed to introduce residents to their local elected officials and to raise the important topic of fire prevention in {YOUR COMMUNITY}. The open house will include refreshments, followed by a discussion forum. Panelists include {LIST ALL PARTICIPANTS}. This event is free and is open to the public. Following the open house, children will be invited to tour the station and look at fire engines and ladder trucks.
WHEN: {DATE AND START-STOP TIMES}
WHERE: {STATION NAME AND ADDRESS}
WHY: Fire takes a terrible toll on communities like ours. In addition to injuries, deaths and property loss, when fire strikes it can cost communities jobs and shut down local businesses indefinitely. These losses can snowball and lead to reduced property values and other community blight. The {YOUR FIRE DEPARTMENT} wants to help {YOUR COMMUNITY} residents and elected leaders understand the importance of investing in fire prevention now to protect our future.
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