NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF STATE FIRE MARSHALS
A Strong United Voice for Fire Prevention
Registration is Opening Soon!
September 14th-16th
Stowe, Vermont
NASFM is excited to announce we will be hosting the 31st Annual Fire Prevention & Safety Symposium September 14th-16th at the Stoweflake Resort & Conference Center in Stowe, Vermont. “We made the decision to move the Symposium from our usual July dates” said NASFM Executive Director Jim Narva, “so we can ensure the best opportunity for a safe and productive educational environment.” The Symposium will present essential educational opportunities for the Marshals as they adapt their response and recovery operations in the ever changing Covid-19 environment.
Registration will open in early March, keep an eye on the website for more information. Meanwhile, please contact us if you have questions.
Claiming 400 Lives Annually, the NASFM is Leading Efforts to Raise Awareness of the “Invisible Killer”: Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
Carbon Monoxide poisoning is a proven dangerous threat, claiming approximately 450 lives annually, with another 21,000 Americans sent to emergency rooms due to unintentional poisonings, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). The National Association of State Fire Marshals (NASFM), along with Safe Kids, has established the Awareness Week and is leading the charge to bring increased awareness to this “Invisible Killer.” Per the CDC, CO poisoning is the leading cause of accidental poisoning deaths in America, and because CO is an odorless, tasteless and colorless gas, many people are initially unaware they are even being poisoned.
“It’s important we all pay close attention to the potentially fatal effects of CO poisoning,” said NASFM President and Florida Director of the Division of State Fire Marshals, Julius Halas. “especially as we all begin to use home heating devices as colder weather approaches.”
CO is produced anytime a fuel is burned. Potential sources of CO include gas or oil furnaces, water heaters, space heaters, clothes dryers, barbecue grills, fireplaces, wood-burning stoves, gas ovens, generators, and car exhaust fumes. CO bonds to hemoglobin in red blood cells and prevents oxygen from reaching vital organs, such as the brain and heart, causing dizziness, headache, and other flu-like symptoms. At high concentration levels, CO can cause loss of consciousness and even death, and people who are sleeping or intoxicated are more susceptible to succumbing to CO poisoning.
“Winter can be a deadly time when it comes to CO poisoning, so it’s important to take steps now to protect your family,” Browning said. “During the winter months, we are all more likely to use fireplaces, propane heaters and furnaces to help heat our homes.”
If not properly ventilated and maintained, NASFM reminds you fuel-burning appliances can emit deadly levels of CO. Additionally, idling your vehicle or running a gas-powered generator in an attached garage can also lead to increased levels of CO, which allow fumes to seep into your home through doors or floorboards. “The only safe way to detect CO is with a properly functioning and maintained CO alarm,” added Browning.
Distinguished fire safety experts, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), recommend installing a CO alarm on every level of the home and near sleeping areas. Other safety tips include:
For more information about National CO Awareness Week, including tips and best practices on how to protect you and your family from the dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning, visit www.carbonmonoxidefacts.com.
Please note our new mailing address and forward all future correspondence to this address. Thank you!
National Association of State Fire Marshals
P.O. Box 948238
Maitland, FL 32794
News from NASFM
| Upcoming EventsNDRN invites P&A agencies and fire service representatives to collaborate on effective strategies that protect the lives and rights of people with disabilities. Developed in conjunction with the National Association of State Fire Marshals, this initiative has offered 8 out of 10 regional workshops in person throughout the US with the last 2 sessions now slated to take place virtually. Each interactive session has successfully brought together first responders and P&A representatives to collectively pursue pathways for protecting the rights and lives of people with disabilities. Our theme is Facing Flames: Reimagining How We Prepare for, Respond to and Recover from Fires, Disasters and other Emergencies. Click here to register today for the final 2 sessions of this remarkable series! Region 5: Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota & Ohio Dates: January 13-14, 2021 July 19-22 - 2021 NASFM Annual Conference; Stowe, Vermont |