September 25, 2012 – The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) announced today it is teaming up with The Home Depot and Kidde to help raise awareness of fire safety throughout October with nationwide in-store fire safety workshops for kids and adults. In addition, The Home Depot will donate 50,000 Kidde 10-year sealed lithium battery smoke alarms to local fire departments across the United States. Home Depot associates will be providing fire safety education through the month of October. In addition, a donation will be made to the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation’s “Be a Hero, Save a Hero” initiative.
“Nearly 20 percent of homes in the U.S. have smoke alarms that don’t work. This program will benefit thousands of families by providing long-life smoke alarms that offer maintenance-free protection for ten years. The recipients never need to remember to replace the battery because it’s sealed inside the unit, and will last the life of the alarm,” said Chris Rovenstine, marketing and sales manager for Kidde.
“We read all the time about instances where children have escaped a fire or urged parents to check their smoke alarm batteries after learning these lessons at a community event,” said Lorraine Carli, vice president of communications for NFPA. “Partnering with The Home Depot and Kidde is a terrific way to reach hundreds of thousands of children and parents with life-saving information.”
“Our associates all across the country are pleased to play a role in saving lives from fire by sharing information in a fun and entertaining way,” said Elizabeth Rogers, electrical merchant for The Home Depot.
According to NFPA, the majority of fire deaths occur in homes where there are no smoke alarms or no working smoking alarms, mainly due to dead (aged) or missing batteries or age of alarm. NFPA recommends replacing smoke alarms every 10 years, but a recent industry survey finds more than a quarter of older homes – 17 million – need updated fire safety equipment. Following an associate challenge between stores, The Home Depot will distribute the 50,000 Kidde smoke alarms for installation in U.S. homes.
The program also will remind families about having enough working smoke and carbon monoxide (CO) alarms throughout their home. NFPA recommends placing smoke alarms on each level and inside and outside of sleeping areas. CO alarms should be placed on each floor and near sleeping areas.
Fire departments can get involved and learn more by contacting their local Home Depot store manager or visiting www.nfpa.org/homedepot.
About The Home Depot
The Home Depot is the world’s largest home improvement specialty retailer, with 2,255 retail stores in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, 10 Canadian provinces, Mexico and China. In fiscal 2011, The Home Depot had sales of $70.4 billion and earnings of $3.9 billion. The company employs more than 300,000 associates. The Home Depot’s stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: HD) and is included in the Dow Jones industrial average and Standard & Poor’s 500 index.
About Kidde
As the world’s largest manufacturer of fire safety products, Kidde’s mission is to provide solutions that protect people and property from the effects of fire and its related hazards. For 95 years the military, aerospace and building industries have relied on Kidde to deliver superior fire detection and suppression. Consumers will find that same advanced technology in Kidde’s residential and commercial smoke alarms, carbon monoxide alarms, fire extinguishers and other life safety products.
Based in Mebane, N.C., Kidde is part of UTC Climate, Controls & Security, a unit of United Technologies Corp., a leading provider to the aerospace and building systems industries worldwide. For more information, visit www.kidde.com.
About the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)
NFPA is a worldwide leader in fire, electrical, building, and life safety. The mission of the international nonprofit organization founded in 1896 is to reduce the worldwide burden of fire and other hazards on the quality of life by providing and advocating consensus codes and standards, research, training, and education. Visit NFPA’s website at www.nfpa.org for more information.