P.O. Box 237 Uniontown, OH 44685-0237 Phone: 216-447-6331 Website: ohiofsc.org

NEWS

June 11, 2008

OHIO FIRE SAFETY COALITION (OFSC) UPDATES

Dear OFSC Supporter,

 

SUBJECT:  OHIO FIRE SAFETY COALITION (OFSC) UPDATES

We would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your interest in the Ohio Fire Safety Coalition (OFSC). 

The OFSC is committed to educating the Ohio public on fire safety and the life saving value of residential fire sprinklers.  We would like to take this opportunity to bring you up to date with planned activities for this year.

OFSC Burn Invitational (August 2008)

The OFSC Burn Invitational will be having its 4th Annual Golf Tournament and Auction Monday, August 18th.  The event will take place again at the spectacular Glenmoor Country Club in Canton, Ohio.

In the first three annual events the OFSC Burn Invitational has raised $95,000 for Akron Children’s Hospital.  The events draw attendees as far as California and Florida.  This year will be especially special as we look forward to going over the $100,000 mark.

The $95,000 raised thus far have been allocated equally ($23,750) in the following areas at Akron Children’s:

• Children's Cancer Fund:  Provides cancer research funding.
• ACBC (Aluminum Cans for Burned Children):  Sponsors summer camp for burn children.
• Henry P. and Helen Schmidt Burn Education Endowment Fund:  Sponsors burn education programming.  
• General Fund for the Clifford R. Boeckman, M.D. Regional Burn Center: Provides funds for new equipment in the burn center.

Please check out the pictures from the 3rd Annual OFSC Burn Invitational.

Campus Fire Safety Month (September 2008)
The OFSC has once again co-sponsored the National Campus Fire Safety Month Kick-Off.  (Campus Firewatch™) The launch of National Campus Fire Safety Month 2008 will take place on September 9th on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC.  Now in its fourth 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 Congressman Bill Pascrell (NJ-8) and Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs Jones (OH-11) who are strong supporters of campus fire safety and have introduced key legislation in Congress.
 “National Campus Fire Safety Month has served to educate families, students, school administrators and policy makers on the danger that fire incidents present on campuses all across America,” stated Pascrell.  “I am excited to serve with Campus Firewatch and Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs Jones on this campaign and hope that its success will help advance policies to further protect students as they begin school this September.” 
"I am extremely pleased to join with my colleague Congressman Bill Pascrell in sponsoring legislation for National Campus Fire Safety Month," said Rep. Tubbs Jones. "With 129 deaths nationwide from campus fires in student housing since January 2000, many having occurred in my home state of Ohio, it is imperative that we continue to give a voice to this issue and encourage increased prevention measures on and around our college campuses."
“Over 40 fire safety organizations from across the nation have joined together to voice their support for National Campus Fire Safety Month and the list is growing,” said Campus Firewatch Publisher Ed Comeau.  “This is unprecedented and demonstrates the importance of this issue at schools and in communities.  Educating our youth about what they can do in preventing the tragedies we have seen will help save lives, not only for the time they are in college but for the rest of their lives.” National Campus Fire Safety Month 2008 is being co-sponsored by Campus Firewatch, the Ohio Fire Safety Coalition and the Congressional Fire Services Institute.  For more information and a list of supporting organizations, visit www.CampusFireSafetyMonth.org.

OFSC (August through December 2008)

OFSC will continue to partner with Clear Channel Communications in delivering regular public service announcements on fire safety and sprinkler education.  OFSC executive director, Matthew Kuwatch, was featured in 2007 in over 12 broadcasted radio programs on Clear Channel Communication network stations.  Topics covered fire safety and prevention education in single family residential and campus housing.

OFSC Supports Requirements for Residential Fire Sprinklers in Single Family Homes

Single family homes continue to represent the largest percentage of civilian fire deaths and injuries as compared to other building types.  These occupancies also represent a high percentage of fire service deaths and injuries.  According to the Home Fire Sprinkler Coalition, installing both smoke alarms and a fire sprinkler system reduces the risk of death in a home fire by 82%, relative to having neither.

The OFSC will actively pursue promoting the benefits of residential fire sprinklers in new and existing homes.  The OFSC will coordinate home fire sprinkler education efforts to Ohio building officials.  These building officials will then have the right to attend 2009 International Residential Code adoption vote in September 2008 in Minneapolis, MN.

Best regards,

Ohio Fire Safety Coalition Board of Trustees