NFPA President James M. Shannon among speakers during World Conference on Fire-Safe Cigarettes
The issue: Burning cigarettes ignite thousands of fires in the United States annually and, in the year 2002 alone, led to more than 750 deaths and 1,700 injuries. Direct property damage is in the millions of dollars each year. The worldwide toll of cigarette-induced fires is even larger. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) has been advocating for the use of fire- safe cigarettes for years. Tobacco manufacturers have long had the technology to make self-extinguishing fire-safe cigarettes but only sell them where the law requires. Three states – California, New York, and Vermont – have passed the legislation. Now other states and global health authorities are poised to ban standard cigarettes in favor of fire- safe products.
When: Friday, December 9, 9:00 am – 5:00 pm 12:00 pm – 1:30 pm, presenters available to the media
Where: Harvard School of Public Health 677 Huntington Avenue Boston, MA 02115
Or: Web cast live at http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/fire_safer_cigarettes/webcast.html. For the full agenda visit http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/fire_safer_cigarettes/. HSPH research is supported in part by the American Legacy Foundation.
Contact: Lisa Braxton, NFPA Public Affairs Cell phone: 857-939-8762/ Office: 617-984-7274