IMPLEMENTING YOUR ADVOCACY PROGRAM
Demonstrate the Benefit of Investing in Fire Prevention
The following series of templates were developed by Richard Taylor*, Office of the State Fire Marshal, Maine. They can be used to localize the statistics of fire's impact. Instruction on the following pages will help you localize data for your own community.
Template 1
Template 2
Template 3
Template 4
Localizing the impact of fire helps leaders connect with the problem. It also can impress community leaders with the hidden costs of fires.
*Richard Taylor is the Senior Research and Planning Analyst with the Maine Fire Marshal’s Office. Richard has earned a B.A. in History and Philosophy from Bradley University; an M.A. in U.S. Constitutional History from Minnesota State University; and an M.A. in Public Policy Management and Analysis from the Muskie School, University of Southern Maine. Richard writes rules, drafts legislation and testimony, conducts research on the fire burden in Maine and its cost, writes grants and develops outreach and public education/awareness programs in addition to other activities. Richard is a member of Maine’s Injury Prevention Group, Home Safety Council Expert Network, Vision 20/20-A National Strategy for Fire Prevention, and PARADE (Prevention Advocacy Resources Data Exchange). Richard is 54, married and has two children ages 10 and 20.
Documenting Results Helps Justify Your Investment
Helping your audience understand the impact of fire is only half the battle. They also need to understand how prevention strategies work. It's important to be able to document your effective methods. A good example of this is in Moultrie, GA. Since March 2009, 20 fires occurred in homes where smoke alarms had been installed as part of an organized installation program funded through the Centers for Disease Control's SAIFE program. Moultrie officials have tracked 56 lives that were potentially saved as a direct result of the smoke alarms installed during the program. You can read more about their successful smoke alarm installation efforts at the CDC website.