Comedian and former teacher Gerry Dee teams up with Kidde to equip Canadian
families with educational resources for kids and donate over 1,000
smoke alarms
TORONTO, Oct. 2, 2023
/CNW/ -- Today, Kidde – North
America's #1 Home Fire Safety Brand* launched its first-ever
Cause For AlarmTM campaign in Canada to help address the gaps in fire safety
knowledge and preparedness amongst Canadians. Fatal house fires
disproportionately affect some communities more than others. In
fact, one in ten of the home fire related deaths in Canada are youth1.To bridge the
gap, Kidde has partnered with comedian and former teacher
Gerry Dee to help educate families
and children on the importance of having working smoke alarms and
practicing fire safety at home. Kidde is a part of Carrier Global
Corporation (NYSE: CARR), global
leader in intelligent climate and energy solutions.
On average, Canadian students will practice 1402 fire
drills during their K-12 experience, making them well-prepared in
the event of a fire at school. However, they are less knowledgeable
about what to do if the smoke alarm goes off at home. While more
than half of Canadians agree a formal fire escape plan for their
home is a priority, only (6%) of Canadians have one in writing,
according to a national survey commissioned by Kidde. Additionally,
1 in 7 unintentional residential fire-related deaths occurred in
homes without a working smoke alarm1, and these devices
can double the chances of escaping from a home fire safely.
"We know that most home fire fatalities are preventable with the
right fire safety education and home safety products," said
Isis Wu, VP & GM, Residential
Fire, Carrier Fire & Security. "We also know that by educating
children on how to protect themselves from fires in the home, we
can help prevent devastating fatalities. Our goal is to rally
everyone behind the cause and help save more lives."
Kidde created educational materials that include the memorable
Cause For Alarm jingle - "Beeps That Last, Get Out Fast,"
meant to help children easily recall what to do in the event of a
fire.
"As a father, teacher and coach, I know the importance of
preparedness," said Gerry. "Teaming up with Kidde for their Cause
for Alarm campaign means a lot to me because fire safety shouldn't
stop in the classroom. Essentials like smoke alarms and fire escape
plans often slip our minds at home, which is why I'm proud to raise
awareness of this important topic to help keep more families
safe."
In addition to the jingle, Kidde has created a Fire Safety
Toolkit, an educational resource comprised of simple, engaging
tools and information such as a home fire safety checklist, tips
and guides for setting up a personalized fire escape plan, using a
fire extinguisher, testing and maintaining your smoke alarm,
monitoring for carbon monoxide, as well as engaging activities for
children.
During the campaign, Kidde is also collaborating with the Fire
Marshal's Public Fire Safety Council (FMPFSC) to help close the
protection gap by donating over 1,000 fire alarms to local fire
station(s).
"The Fire Marshal's Public Fire Safety Council is proud to share
Kidde's strong commitment to keeping children and families safe,"
said Executive Director, Jamie
Kovacs. "We are pleased to partner with Kidde in support of
their donation of smoke alarms to local fire
departments."
Join Kidde, Gerry Dee and FMPFSC
to help protect more families through #CauseForAlarm. Here's how
you can help:
- SHARE: The "Beeps That Last, Get Out Fast" jingle on
social media, tag @KiddeCanada and use #CauseForAlarm to help us
continue raising awareness of the issue.
- LEARN: More about fire safety and how you can get
involved by visiting CauseforAlarm.org/Canada.
Survey Methodology
These are the findings of a survey
conducted by Kidde from August 18th to
August 24th, 2023 among a total sample of 1,555 online
Canadians who are members of the Angus Reid Forum. The sample
consisted of 1,015 nationally representative Canadians and 517
additional nationally representative parents who have children in
their household under the age of 18. The survey was conducted in
English and French. For comparison purposes only, a probability
sample of this size would carry a margin of error of +/-2.5
percentage points, 19 times out of 20.
About Kidde
Kidde, a leading manufacturer of
residential smoke alarms, carbon monoxide alarms, fire
extinguishers, and safety accessories, has been keeping the world a
safer place for over 100 years. Kidde produced the first integrated
smoke detection system a century ago and continues its legacy today
by delivering advanced fire-safety technology. Kidde is a part of
Carrier Global Corporation, global leader in intelligent climate
and energy solutions that matter for people and our planet for
generations to come. For more information,
visit kiddecanada.com or follow @KiddeCanada, and
on Facebook and Instagram.
1 Unintentional fire-related deaths in
Canada, 2011 to 2020
2 All About Fire Safety and Evacuation Plans, 2019
*Based on total household installations as of December 2021.
Contact:
Stephanie
Berzinski
561-346-9232
stephanie.berzinski@carrier.com
SOURCE Kidde