Smoking and Home Fires Transcript, Part 2


Voice of Greg Cade:

It was a smoldering cigareatte left on a couch just like that that caused a blaze last year that killed five peopele in Homesdale, Pennsylvania.  Two women in their twenties and three children, all under the age of four. And just two days ago, a 45 year old woman in East Rockaway, New York died as a result of a fire caused by a cigarette left on a living room couch. It is still happening. Smoking in bed is just plain wrong. You know its a matter of time before you fall asleep.  An Orlando TV station reported an elderly man who died in a fire last June was smoking in bed.  The firefighters had been called to the same house ten days earlier for the same reason.  This time, it was deadly - for him and for his pet.  These are just a few examples of the fire fatalities caused by smoking materials.  Unfortunately, there are many more.  

Through our Quick Response Program, the United States Fire Administration keeps track of the residential fire fatalities that you hear about in the news.  These daily examples can be found on our web site.  The image of this campaign is the fellow in the chair who's dozed off--does this "drowsy guy" look familiar? If you smoke or if you live with someone who smokes you may recognize this scenario.  Here are some ways you can stop the fire before it starts.  

First, if you feel you have to smoke, it's better to smoke outside.  Inside the home, we want people to use big ashtrays with a stable base.  If it wobbles, it won't work.  Really put the cigarette out, don't just tap it in the ashtray.  Douse the ashtrays with water before you toss the cigarette butts in the trash.  It's not a good idea to smoke if you're drowsy, and don't ever smoke in bed.  People who smoke while at your house, be sure to check for cigarette butts near the furniture or under the sofa cushions before you call it a night.  If you or someone in your family smokes, Put it out. All the way.  Every time.  

Starting today, these messages will be used by our wonderful partner organizations and fire departments around the country.  I want you to hear from someone who knows the painful experience about why these messages are so important.  Cathy Hedrick represents one of our organizational partners, but she's speaking to you today as a mother.  Cathy's son was a volunteer firefighter, killed in the line of duty, trying to rescue a family from a burning home, a fire caused by a smoking cigarette.  Today, she directs the Survivor Program for the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation and is a forceful advocate for firefighter safety.  And if it sounds like it bothers you a little or that I'm bothered by it, Cathy's son Kenny was the last line of duty death funeral that I went to in Prince George's County, before I retired.  So it's personal to me as well as it is to Cathy.  So I'd like you now to hear from my very good friend Cathy Hedrick.