Fire Prevention Week 2010

GUELPH, ON, Oct 4 /CNW/ - Fire kills an average of eight people a week in Canada, with residential fires accounting for 73 per cent of fatalities, according to Fire Prevention Canada. The Co-operators, insurer of 847,000 Canadian homes, is reminding Canadians to make proper use of smoke alarms in their homes, and to prepare and practise a family escape plan.

The campaign for this year's Fire Prevention Week, running from October 3 until October 9, is "Smoke Alarms: A Sound You Can Live With!" Proper use of smoke alarms is one of your best defences against fire in your home. In keeping with the focus of this year's campaign, we offer the following Five Simple Steps to a Safer Home:

  1. Install smoke alarms approved by the Underwriters' Laboratories of
     Canada (ULC) or the Canadian Standards Association (CSA) on the
     ceiling of every level including basements, and outside all
     sleeping areas.
  2. Ensure that everyone in your home, particularly children,
     recognize the sound of your smoke alarms and know what to do when
     they hear it.
  3. Practise family escape plans and be sure to share the plan with
     caregivers and babysitters.
  4. Check the batteries in your smoke alarm regularly, and replace
     them every six months. If you live in an area with Daylight
     Savings Time, change your batteries when you change your clock.
  5. Replace smoke alarms every ten years.

More information and additional fire safety tips are offered in The Co-operators Insurance 101™ article, Fire Prevention at Home, available at www.cooperators.ca.

"By and large, deaths in residential fires are preventable, and two of the best ways to keep your family safe are by practising an escape plan and using smoke alarms properly," said Kathy Bardswick, President and CEO of The Co-operators. "Often all it takes for people to stay on top of these things is a little reminder, and that's what Fire Prevention Week is all about."

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) has been the official sponsor of Fire Prevention Week for 88 years. The Co-operators has ongoing partnerships with the Canadian Association of Fire Chiefs and the Fire Marshal's Public Fire Safety Council, which distribute NFPA safety materials in Canada.

About The Co-operators:
The Co-operators Group Limited is a 100 per cent Canadian-owned co-operative with more than $42 billion in assets under administration. Through its group of companies, it offers home, auto, life, group, travel, commercial and farm insurance, as well as investment products. The Co-operators is owned by 47 Canadian co-operatives, credit union centrals and like-minded organizations. It is well known for its community involvement and its commitment to creating a more sustainable tomorrow. In 2010, The Co-operators was ranked #2 among the 50 Best Corporate Citizens in Canada and listed among the 50 Best Employers in Canada. For more information visit www.cooperators.ca.