By Kathi Osmonson
Fire and Life Safety Specialist
We are embarking on Year III of our “Reducing Smoking-related Fire Fatalities by 30 Percent in the Next Five Years" campaign and we need your help! Convincing long-time smokers to quit might be an admirable goal, but we are simply promoting safer smoking practices in order to prevent smoking-related fire fatalities.
What can you do to help? Consider places and media in your community where smoking-related fire prevention messages might get people's attention.
- Use social media platforms. Our smoking-related
social media posts are pre-made for use. Follow us on Facebook or Twitter and re-post our messages.
- Cable TV is always looking for content.
Here is a short video you can offer to your community television station.
- Send a news release to your local paper or give them a call and offer to be interviewed about some important fire safety concerns. Two smoking-related fire prevention
news release templates are ready for use.
Is there a local food shelf in your area? Print some of the messages as posters or flyers. Food shelf coordinators and volunteers might help spread the word by hanging posters on a wall or putting flyers in food bags.
People often buy cigarettes at gas stations. Would your local gas station be willing to hang a poster? How about local restaurants and drinking establishments? They also might be willing to spread the word in this way. Our website has infographics and “Facts and Tips" sheets that could be made into flyers or posters:
Incorporate safe-smoking messages into any presentation by making use of these
talking points. Appeal to the general public. Everyone knows at least one smoker (or family of a smoker) who could benefit from safe smoking messages. Remember hearing about the so-called “sandwich generation" those who care for both their own young children as well as those kids' grandparents? They can help drive home messages and keep a watchful eye on their family members who smoke.
If you have any other ideas about how to spread the word about safe-smoking habits, please let us know.
Kathi Osmonson is our fire educator in the southern half of Minnesota,
Bob Reif in the north.
