Fire Prevention and Public Information: Making the Most of Teachable Moments

Fire Prevention and Public Information: Making the Most of Teachable Moments

 

By Ray Huntzinger

 

Reference:

United States Fire Administration. (2011, November 17). Fire prevention and public education: Making the most of teachable moments. Retrieved on October 31, 2013, from http://www.usfa.fema.gov/downloads/pdf/coffee-break/fm/fm_2011_12.pdf

 

Theme:

The overall theme of the article focuses on how fire public information officers (PIO) can utilize media interviews to educate the public on fire prevention messages following a structure fire.

 

Summary:

--To spread fire safety messages most effectively, it is important that the PIO know what to do and say before, during, and after media interviews.

--Before an interview the PIO should put fire safety messages in their own words, make not of the prevention-related services that the fire department offers, consider using local and national statistics, and practice your message so the message is comfortable.

--During a media interview the PIO should keep safety messages closely linked to the fire story, mention the effectiveness of smoke alarms and residential sprinklers, provide statistics on the seriousness of structure fires and compel them to take action.

--After an interview the PIO should follow up with the reporter within a day and ask if the reporter need additional information, encourage follow up stories that can provide more fire prevention information, provide additional information from the fire investigation that may have not been available immediately after the fire, and offer to serve as a resource for future fire safety related news stories. 

 

Application to the Lesson topic:

This article focuses on several points discussed in the lesson. One of the key points that the article stresses is the importance of using fire emergencies to act as teachable moments; however, these teachable moments are only as effective as what the PIO does and says before, during, and following interviews with the media. The article also stresses the importance of being prepared, knowing the facts, understanding principles, and reference to vital statistics during media interviews; these principles help answer the who, what, where, when, why, and how.

 

Application to emergency services:

This article directly relates to the duties of a fire department PIO following a structure fire. There is no better moment to stress the importance of fire prevention than during the reporting of an actual structure fire; the drama of the fire has already captured the public attention so the audience is ripe to be educated on how to prevent similar events.