New Online Vision 20/20 Fire Prevention Advocacy Toolkit Helps Fire Service Demonstrate the Value of Fire Prevention

Alexandria, VA – June 14, 2011   The Institution of Fire Engineers USA Branch (IFE-USA) is launching a new web-based Vision 20/20 Fire Prevention Advocacy Toolkit that gives local fire departments the tools  they need to prove the value of fire prevention in saving lives and reducing the impact of fire on a community and its economy.  Available at www.strategicfire.org, this program was funded by a DHS Fire Prevention and Safety Grant to IFE-USA to demonstrate the value of investing in fire prevention in these difficult economic times.

The Vision 20/20 Fire Prevention Advocacy Toolkit was developed under one of the five Vision 20/20 strategies, Strategy 1 Fire Prevention Advocacy.  This strategy is led by Alan Perdue, Emergency Services Director Guildford County (NC), a member of the Board of Directors of the International Association of Fire Chiefs and a member of the Vision 20/20 Steering Committee, and supported by Peg Carson of Carson Associates, Inc.

“In this economy, community officials and fire chiefs are confronted with tough decisions when it comes to what services to save and what services to cut,” said Perdue.  “We all know that fire prevention saves lives and money, but it’s been somewhat difficult to justify these programs economically.  Every day, a fire department responds to a fire every 23 seconds, someone is injured every 31 minutes, and every three hours someone dies.  Annually, across the nation, fires cause $15.5 billion in property damage and these new tools can demonstrate the terrible impact that a fire can have at a local level on people, a community and its economy.  A catastrophic fire can not only cause injuries and deaths, but it may also mean that businesses close their doors, resulting in losing both jobs and tax revenue.  It’s really quite simple - prevention pays.”

Included in this toolkit, among others, are resources such as…

•         Fire prevention advocacy strategies

•         Community investment in fire prevention

•         Implementing an advocacy program

•         Working with the local media

•         Evaluating your program’s impact

•         Reaching audiences

“There has never been something like this that local fire chiefs can use to prove the value of fire prevention programs,” said Vision 20/20 Project Manager Jim Crawford.  “The Vision 20/20 Fire Prevention Advocacy Toolkit gives them the information that they can use in reaching out to community leaders, city officials and other decision makers to prove the impact that fire prevention programs have in not only saving lives but making communities economically sound and viable.”

The Vision 20/20 Fire Prevention Advocacy Toolkit can be found at www.StrategicFire.org.  You can also learn more by following us on Twitter @strategicfire and Facebook at Facebook.com/strategicfire.

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Great Products For Child-Proofing Your Computer

Anyone with a child knows they are fascinated with computers, starting at a very young age. Leaving your child alone with your computer is not the ideal situation, but watching them every second isn't always possible, either. Whether you want to protect your children from the many dangers of the internet or protect your important files from little hands who may not know exactly what the "delete" button means, the following programs can help make your child's PC experience more enjoyable and help you rest a little easier.

Safe Eyes 5.0 This program does everything you need and then some. It's touch - your smartest kid won't break the code of protection - and it covers up to three computers. It's compatible with both Mac and PC and retails for about $49.95.

Peanut Butter PC 3.0 Peanut Butter PC not only protects your files, but it keeps your kids entertained at the same time. It's not nearly as tough as Safe Eyes, but it does have interactive elements. However, in a review, PC Mag says they aren't very exciting. This one retails for about $24.95.

Hoopah Kidview Computer Explorer 6 This one is perhaps a bit too cutesy for older kids, but it will keep the little ones out of your important files. It offers kid-safe email and keeps web-surfing age-appropriate and it sells for about $39.95.

KidZui 5.0 KidZui allows your kids to surf the web, play games, view videos and interact socially online in a very lively environment. And it does it all for a mere $7.95.

Net Nanny 6.0 This is probably the best choice for child-proofing your PC. It does what you probably expect it would, but it also offers a number of unique features not found on any of the other programs. It has secure web-traffic filtering, ESRB-based game control, and records IM conversations if they come across as dangerous. You can monitor and manage from any location with email alerts and remote configuration. This one is $39.95.

OnlineFamily.Norton This is the only free product on the list but it's actually pretty good quality compared to a few of the others. It blocks bad websites, controls how long your child can spend on the computer, supervises chats and social network use. It works with both Macs and PCs and remote configuration and reporting is super-easy.

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