Operation Save-A-Life: ABC7 teams up with CFD

  

January 2011 (WLS) -- ABC 7 Chicago, the Chicago Fire Department, Kidde (a global leader in fire and safety products), and Home Depot are proud to once again present "Operation Save-A-Life," a public awareness campaign targeting fire safety and prevention. Fire fatalities are often preventable through education and the use of smoke detectors, a message that will be the focal point when ABC 7's Operation-Save-A-Life campaign kicks off its 8th year on Monday, January 24th, 2011.

This year the campaign will underscore an additional message by trying to reach the two most vulnerable segments of the population senior citizens and children. For the 8th consecutive year, ABC 7 Chicago's morning team, Hosea Sanders, Judy Hsu, Tracy Butler and Roz Varon will join the Chicago Fire Department for other outreach programs in the community reinforcing life-saving tips, useful statistics and information on what to do in case of a fire. Morning team members will visit Chicago schools and senior centers to personally talk with students and seniors alike about fire safety.

Kidde once again will support the campaign by donating 14,000 smoke detectors that the Chicago Fire Department will distribute to disadvantaged Chicago communities during these outreach programs. Kidde has participated in ABC 7's Operation Save-A-Life campaign since 2003 and has donated 134,000 smoke detectors to people in need during that time.

"The success of Operation Save-A-Life is evident in the fact that eight years after its inception, this community campaign is still going strong. There has been great teamwork with our Chicago Fire Department, Kidde and Home Depot partners. We've never stopped working toward the same goal: spreading the word that fire safety can save lives," said Emily Barr, President and General Manager, ABC 7 Chicago.

Fire Commissioner Robert Hoff said "The partnership between the Chicago Fire Department and ABC 7 for the Operation Save-A-Life campaign has proved to be very successful. Combined with generous donations from Kidde and other sponsors, we have been able to supply thousands of homes with smoke detectors. In addition, we are pleased that our important fire safety messages reach a huge audience on ABC 7 and that the station supports us during fire safety visits to schools and senior homes throughout the city."

Fire Facts:

-- *In 2010 there was a total of 27 fire fatalities, the second lowest number since the Chicago Fire Department began recording those statistics. 2008 was Chicago's lowest year for fire death fatalities ever.

-- ** Smoke detectors are in 92% of American homes, but nearly one-third don't work because of missing or old batteries.

-- *Almost all fire deaths in Chicago occur in buildings where there are no working smoke detectors. Detectors with run-down or missing batteries are worthless.

* Provided by the Chicago Fire Department.
**Provided by the National Fire Protection Association.

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