County Tobacco Education Committee Supports Local Volunteer Fire Department's Campaign

Source from:  Altustimes.com November 14, 2008 11/18/2008

Smoking is the number one cause of home fire deaths, causing an average of 1000 deaths nationally per year. Cigarette fires also kill people who do not smoke. To prevent these deaths, the Jackson County Tobacco Education Committee (JCTEC), a program under Southwest Oklahoma Community Action Group, Inc. and in partnership with Jackson Count Community Health Action Team is launching a county wide initiative o reducing home fires. They recently received 125 ten-year lithium battery smoke alarms from the Injury Prevention Service within the Oklahoma Stat Department of Health. Working with the local volunteer fire departments, the smoke alarms will be distributed to residents within Blair, Duke, Eldorado, Elmer, Friendship, Headrick, Martha and Olustee at no cost to residents. The smoke alarms will be installed by trained volunteer firefighters who will also educate the resident regarding the importance of implementing a 'Voluntary No Smoking in the Home' policy, 'Causes & Prevention of House Fires', and 'How to Survive a House Fire' through establishing an escape. Enditem