FIRE DEPARTMENT TOOL KIT Campaign Focus The campaign is aimed at improving public safety in Ontario by educating and raising awareness with school-age children and their families about fire safety and other injury prevention tips. Components: Player Safety Baseball Cards PSA television and radio messaging Fire Safety Products (banners and posters) Website for Campaign tips and PSAs o www.safetyinfo.ca 178 participating fire departments Fire Safety Events: Campaign Kick-Off Player Safety Baseball Cards o May 29 th Fire Safety Day June 13 th @ Rogers Centre
178 Participating Fire Departments Adjala-Torsonto Ajax Alnick/ Haldimand Brock Brockville Burlington Ear Falls East Gwillimbury East Zorra- Tavistock Guleph- Eramosa Haldimand County Kirkland Lake Norfolk County Peterborough South Glengarry Kitchener North Bay Pickering South Stormont Halton Hills London North Dumfries Point Edward Springwater Town of Greater Napanee Town of Laurentian Hills of Chatsworth Amherstburg Arnprior Carleton Place Carling Edwardsburg/ Cardinal Elizabethtown -Kitley Hamilton Longlac North Huron Prescott St. Catharines of Georgian Bay of Norwich Hanover Madawaska Valley North Perth Prince Edward County St. Charles Asphodel- Norwood Central York Elliot Lake Hastings Highlands Mapleton Oakville Puslinch St. Claire of Wellesley Assiginack Augusta Aylmer Barrie Beausoleil Belleville Centre Hastings Chatham- Kent Chippewas of Rama First Nation City of Dryden City of Kenora Clarence- Rockland Englehart & Area Espanola Essex Faraday French River Hearst Marathon Orangeville Quinte West St. Marys Highlands East Hosanna Ignace Trent Hills Warkworth Station Markham Orillia Renfrew Stratford Tyendinaga Markstay- Warren Middlesex Centre Oshawa Otonabee- South Monaghan Richmond Hill Round Lake & Area Ingersoll Midland Ottawa Sarnia Gananoque Inwood Milton Owen Sound Saugeen Shores Strathroy- Caradoc St. Thomas Tarbutt & Tarbutt Addl Temiskaming Shores Vaughan Wasaga Beach Welland Wellington North Arthur Stn. Bewdley Clarington Gauthier Iroquois Falls Minto Oxdrift Savard & Area Billings Cochrane Georgina Inter Misssissauga Paisley Schreiber Thames Centre The Blue Mountains West Perth West Nipissing Black River Matheson Collingwood Goulais Johnson Mount Forest Parry Sound Severn Thedford Whitby Bonnechere Cornwall Gravenhurst Kapuskasing Municipality of Port Hope Pembroke Smith- Ennismore Thunder Bay Windsor Bracebridge Brantford Brampton County of Brant Cramahe Dawn Euphemia Greater Sudbury Kwartha Lakes Municipality of Trent Hills Campbellford/ Seymour Grey Highlands King Muskoka Lakes Perth East Penetanguishene Smiths Falls Tillsonburg South Bruce Peninsula Grimsby King Lebel New Tecumseth Perth South Dundas Timmins Toronto Woodstock Wyoming Brighton Dundalk Guelph Kingston Niagara Falls Petawawa South Frontenac Town of Caledon
Getting Your Fire Department on the Ball There are countless ways to promote Swing into Summer Safety in your community. We ve included multiple resources to help you locate and receive the support you need to maximize the Swing into Summer Safety Campaign throughout your community. The following provides all the materials you need to get started. Starter Tips: SUGGESTIONS FOR A SUCCESSFUL CAMPAIGN FROM YOUR NEIGHBOURING FIRE DEPARTMENTS Public Education and Distribution of Materials at the following venues: Baseball registrations/camps/tournaments/diamonds Birthday parties at fire hall Classroom visitation at area schools Door to door campaigns while promoting smoke alarms During fire department open houses and tours Fire Safety Trailer Give materials to kids and young adults present at any incident responses Local Food Bank Local Provincial Parks/Campground visits when checking RV/trailer smoke alarms Mall Displays Presentations with church groups Prizes for participation at events, draws and contests Summer camps and fun days Festivals/Celebrations & Community Events: Annual Summer Parade Bike Safety Rodeo Canada Day Carnivals & Community Fairs Community Safe Kids Days Community Picnics Cottage Association Safety Days and Regattas Family Safety Day/Night Events Fire Pump Demonstration Events Highland Games
Festivals/Celebrations & Community Events (cont d): Home & Trade Shows Home Garden Shows Radio Giveaways Sporting Events Truck and Car Shows Fundraisers & Charity Events: Annual Garage Sales Car Washes Community BBQ Events Firefighter breakfasts & dinners Fish Fry Fundraising Blooper Ball Event M&M Charitable BBQ Pancake Breakfast Programs: Alarmed For Life Program Fire Chief For A Day Program Home Fire Safety Visits Program Hot Summer Nights Program Junior Combat Challenge Course Junior Fire Fighter Program Learn Not To Burn Program Library Programs Park Programs Pool Safety Program at local swimming pool and public beaches Recreation & Culture Programs Risk Watch Presentations and Rewards Safe Communities Program TAPP-C Program
Partnership Opportunities: Baseball Organizations Children s Safety Village Community Centre/Halls Cottage Association Grocery & Retail Businesses Leisure Departments Local Newspapers Local Radio Stations Recreation Clubs Promotion of Campaign: Banners Business Sign Boards Facebook Page Local Newsletters Newspapers Posters Public Static Displays Radio Stations Utilize PSAs Websites Team Up With Your Teams! Teaming up with your local baseball teams can be a great way to promote Swing into Summer Safety in your community. No matter how small or large the organization might be, working collaboratively with baseball teams can make Swing into Summer Safety exciting and fun, and will help grab the public s attention as you work to communicate fire and injury prevention messages before and during your campaign. Contact all the local baseball team in your area to gain their support of your Swing into Summer Safety Campaign efforts. Following are steps for reaching the appropriate contacts: Make a list of all the baseball teams in your area that you view as potential Swing into Summer Safety partners.
In most cases, your first point of contact for each team will be a representative from the community relations and/or public relations office. Find out their names, mailing addresses, and phone numbers. Follow up with a phone call about one week later to make sure your contacts received the letter, and to set up a meeting. For each meeting, familiarize the group with the Swing into Summer Safety Campaign and why the campaign is important for their community and how they as a baseball team can help strengthen the impact of the campaign by supporting your efforts and how many children and families you plan to reach with the messages. Remember that partnering with baseball teams is a two-way street. In order for baseball teams to want to work with you, they ll need to believe that supporting your efforts will be beneficial to them in some way. When approaching teams, explain how their participation in the Swing into Summer Safety Campaign will increase team visibility, garder media attention, strengthen community relations, improve ticket sales, etc. Re-type the following sample letter on your fire department s letterhead, filling in the blanks as noted, and send it to all prospects as soon as possible.
Dear (Name of Contact): (Town/City/Province) Fire Department has teamed up with The Toronto Blue Jays Baseball Team and the Fire Marshal s Public Fire Safety Council to promote their Swing into Summer Safety Campaign. The campaign is aimed at improving public safety in Ontario by educating and raising awareness with school-age children and their families about fire safety and other injury prevention tips. I am writing to ask (Organization) to support the (Town/City/Province) Fire Department as we implement Swing into Summer Safety throughout the spring and summer months. (Town/City/Province) Fire Department is planning to promote Swing into Summer Safety through (list the activities/events that your department is planning such as fire safety day at the ballpark, open houses, parades, safety fairs, local contests, school and store visits/presentations, etc.). Your participation would enable our department to maximize public interest in these events, and help promote fire safety in the community. The (Town/City/Province) Fire Department is confident that this year s new, preventionfocused campaign will also have a significant, life-saving impact on our community. By teaming up with (Name of Organization), the (Town/City/Province) Fire Department will reach and influence even more families, helping to make them safer from the areas they re at greatest risk to. In return, we will recognize your support by (clearly explain how you plan to promote the organization s support of Swing into Summer Safety in your community). I ve enclosed some Swing into Summer Safety materials to help familiarize you with this program. I m sure you ll agree that Swing into Summer Safety is bound to hit a home run in (Town/City/Province). With your support, the possibilities are endless. I will follow up with you next week, and look forward to speaking with you about ways we can work together to increase fire safety and injury prevention in (Town/City/Province). I can be reached at (phone number) if you have any questions. Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, (Your Name) (Title) (Town/City/Province) Fire Department
Hitting a Grand Slam in Your Community Following are ways to hit a grand slam in your community as you work to promote Swing into Summer Safety. But don t limit yourself to our suggestions. Using your creativity to develop innovative activities that include local baseball and others will help maximize your campaign efforts. Major/Minor League Baseball School Visits and Community Events Ask baseball players to visit schools, along with the fire department, to sign autographs and take pictures with students. Provide the players with Swing into Summer Safety information to pass out. If you ask a player to talk with kids about the importance of fire safety and injury prevention, be sure to provide accurate talking points ahead of time. If you have an official Sparky the Fire Dog costume, have Sparky and the team s mascot pose for pictures together. Set time aside for kids to meet Sparky and the team mascot. Have the dynamic duo visit schools, malls, community centres, open houses, etc. Ask players to autograph baseball, mitts, and/or pictures for your fire department. Use them as prizes and giveaways at schools and other events. Ask players to write, Swing into Summer Safety on their autographed pictures.
Fire Safety Days at the Ballpark Plan a fire safety, injury prevention fun day at your local ballpark. This is a great opportunity to reach a large number of parents and children. The day could include: Asking the ballpark to display the Swing into Summer Safety banner on the park wall. Handing out the Swing into Summer Safety Blue Jay Cards and/or pennants to kids. Asking the ballpark announcer, or someone from the fire department, to announce Swing into Summer Safety tips. For example, the announcer could say, The (Town/City/Province) Fire Department wants to remind you to Protect your Home Team from fire: Change Smoke Alarm Batteries once a year! Using the stadium s jumbotron or sign boards to display Swing into Summer Safety messages, firefighters with players, kids meeting Sparky, etc. If you have an official Sparky the Fire Dog Costume, have Sparky run around the bases before the game or throw out the first pitch. The announcer or someone from the fire department can emcee cooking, heating, electrical, summer safety, etc. advice while Sparky s on each base. Example: come on folks, help Sparky Swing into Summer Safety and make a triple play for cottage safety: Smoke alarm, fire extinguisher and a carbon monoxide alarm.
Local Baseball Programs Hold a baseball game between your fire department and another public service department (such as the local police department) and invite the community to attend. Pass out the Swing into Summer Safety Blue Jay Cards and/or pennants to all attendees; offer incentives for people to come to the game. Hang your official Swing into Summer Safety banners and posters around the ballpark or field. Attend Little League Baseball games and talk to kids about the key messages addressed in the Player Baseball Safety Cards. Hand out the Player Baseball Cards and pennants to parents & kids and give advice on their messaging. Fundraising Re-type the sample letter below on your fire department s letterhead, filling in the blanks as noted for fundraising.
Dear (Name of Contact): (Town/City/Province) Fire Department has teamed up with the Toronto Blue Jay Baseball Team and the Fire Marshal s Public Fire Safety Council to promote their Swing into Summer Safety Campaign. The campaign is aimed at improving public safety in Ontario by educating and raising awareness with school-age children and their families about fire safety and other injury prevention tips. (Include any local fire statistics you may have.) I am writing to ask (Organization) to support the (Town/City/Province) Fire Department as we implement our Swing into Summer Safety Campaign throughout the spring and summer months. (Town/City/Province) Fire Department is planning to promote Swing into Summer Safety through (list the activities/events that your department requires funding for, such as open houses, parades, safety fairs, local contests, store visits/presentations, etc.). Your financial support of $ would enable our department to score a safety home run in (Town/City/Province) by increasing public awareness about home fire safety and injury prevention, and teaching the community the simple steps they can take to prevent potential home fire hazards and to be safe this summer. In return, we will recognize your support by (clearly explain how you plan to promote the organization s support of Swing into Summer Safety in your community). Because we all know (Name of Company) cares deeply about the well-being of families in our community, the (Town/City/Province) Fire Department thinks you would be a natural partner for our exciting upcoming Swing into Summer Safety Campaign. Through (Name of Company s/organization s) support, the (Town/City/Province) Fire Department will reach and influence more (Town/City/Province) families, helping make them safer from the areas they re at risk of. I will follow up with you next week, and look forward to speaking with you about ways we can work together to increase fire safety and injury prevention in (Town/City/Province). I can be reached at (phone number) if you have any questions. Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, (Your Name) (Title) (Town/City/Province) Fire Department
MEDIA MATERIALS
SAMPLE NEWS RELEASE Re-type this news release on your fire department s letterhead, filling in the blanks where noted, and send it to your media contacts. Remember to follow up with a telephone call to make sure each contact received the release and to answer any questions they may have. FOR RELEASE ON: (Insert date) FOR MORE INFORMATION CALL: (Your Name, Title) (Your Telephone Number) (Your Town/City/Province) Swing into Summer Safety Campaign How do you make learning about fire safety and injury prevention fun for kids of all ages? Add a little baseball! (Your Fire Department) has teamed up with The Toronto Blue Jays Baseball Team and the Fire Marshal s Public Fire Safety Council for our Swing into Summer Safety Campaign. This campaign is aimed at improving public safety in Ontario by educating and raising awareness with school-age children and their families about fire safety and other injury prevention tips over the summer. (Your Fire Department) plans to increase public awareness of the Swing into Summer Safety Campaign through (Open Houses, Festivals, Parades, Community Events, Displays & Presentations, etc.) on (Date/Time/Place). Working together we can reduce fire and injury losses and save lives. We invite you to step up to the plate and hit a home run for your family and community by participating on (Date/Time/Place).
SAMPLE MEDIA ADVISORY Use this media advisory to promote your fire department s open house and/or to publicize other community events your fire department is holding, such as festivals, parades, displays/presentations, etc.) (Your Town/City/Province) Invites Residents to Attend (Your Fire Department s) Open House (or name your public awareness event) WHO:: WHAT:: (Your Fire Department) Open House (or name your public awareness event) (Your Fire Department) is encouraging (Your Town/City/Province) residents to cover your safety bases this summer. By working together we can reduce fire and injury losses and save lives. We invite you to step up to the plate and hit a home run for your family and community by participating in this public awareness event. WHERE:: WHEN:: CONTACT((S)):: (Your Town/City/event address) (Date/Time of event) (Your name/fire Department/phone Number) We encourage you to visit the official Swing into Summer Safety Campaign website for more information and tips over the summer Visit www.safetyinfo.ca