Games and Activities Can Help Kids Learn Fire Safety Basics, Says The Hartford Company Offers Free Junior Fire Marshal Educational Materials; Urges Parents to Take Active Teaching Role HARTFORD, Conn., Sept. 27 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Stop, drop and roll ... crawl low in smoke ... practice home fire drills. At schools throughout the nation during October's Fire Prevention Week, many schoolchildren will be drilled in such fire safety basics as don't play with matches and crawl under smoke. (Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20040927/NYFNSS02 ) But parents have a key role to play in re-enforcing fire safety fundamentals at home, says The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. (NYSE: HIG). To help moms and dads make fire safety a family affair, The Hartford is making available free kid-friendly worksheets, activities and games from its Junior Fire Marshal program, now in its 57th year. The materials are designed for kids in grades kindergarten through third grade and are available in both Spanish and English at http://www.thehartford.com/jfm. "Kids are especially vulnerable in a fire emergency," says Lalani Perry, who oversees The Hartford's Junior Fire Marshal program. "If we can teach kids at an early age how to safely escape a fire emergency, how to identify fire hazards, and not to play with matches, we can reduce this tragic statistic." According to the National Fire Protection Association, some 824 youngsters under age 15 die in home fires each year. Perry recommends that parents emphasize fire safety, especially by holding periodic home fire drills. Fire Prevention Week, October 3 - 9, is a good time, she says, for parents to sit down with their kids to discuss a fire emergency plan and map out escape routes in case of fire. "A good method we've found is to involve the kids in the planning process," says Perry. "Ask them to draw a picture of your home's interior, showing the places for doors, windows and smoke detectors. Have them draw at least two ways out, and then as a family hold practice drills with everyone meeting at a safe place outside." Games and activities, posted on The Hartford's Web site, can bolster fire safety messages. "Parents can reinforce the idea of crawling low under smoke by hanging sheets in a room two feet off the floor and asking their kids to crawl under the fabric," said Perry. "Or pin orange felt 'flames' onto the back of their kids' shirts to simulate burning clothing to practice stop, drop and roll. Our worksheets can make learning about fire safety fun." Parents should also make sure their youngsters know the safe way to get help. "If there's a fire emergency, first evacuate your house, then call the fire department from a neighbor's house," says Perry. "Kids as young as three and four can be taught how to call 911." Additionally, Fire Prevention Week is a good time for parents to double- check their fire safety equipment to ensure good working order. There should be a smoke detector on each floor and batteries should be changed annually. Perry recommends parents demonstrate the smoke detector's alarm so their children can recognize the sound in an emergency. For nearly 60 years, The Hartford Financial Services Group has been teaching America's youngsters fire safety fundamentals through its Junior Fire Marshal program, the nation's oldest corporate-sponsored public education program. The company reaches nearly two million school-children a year with four essential fire safety messages: don't play with matches; crawl under smoke; stop, drop and roll; and hold home fire drills. The Hartford estimates it has distributed more than 110 million of its signature red plastic Junior Fire Marshal fire helmets over the years. The Hartford is one of the nation's largest financial services and insurance companies, with 2003 revenues of $18.7 billion. The company is a leading provider of investment products, life insurance and group benefits; automobile and homeowners products; and business property-casualty insurance. The Hartford's Internet address is http://www.thehartford.com/. Some of the statements in this release may be considered forward-looking statements as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. We caution investors that these forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, and actual results may differ materially. Investors should consider the important risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ. These important risks and uncertainties include those discussed in our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, our 2003 Annual Report on Form 10-K and the other filings we make with the Securities and Exchange Commission. We assume no obligation to update this release, which speaks as of the date issued. http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20040927/NYFNSS02 http://photoarchive.ap.org/ DATASOURCE: The Hartford CONTACT: Marnie Goodman, +1-860-547-3898, , or Pamela Rekow, +1-860-547-8990, , both of The Hartford Web site: http://www.thehartford.com/

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