Resource Library »   

Sample Press Release: Build a Foundation of Safety in the Basement

Department:  ESFI
Type:  NESM 2011

 

Customize and submit this sample press release to any local media contacts/outlets you think may be interested in learning about and promoting National Electrical Safety Month. Follow up with all media by contacting assignment desks to confirm receipt of the release and to provide any additional information.

 

[Insert Organization/Company Name] Encourages Families, Communities to Build a Foundation of Safety
 

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                                    Contact: [Insert contact name]
[Insert Date]                                                                                                                             [Insert contact phone]
 
City, State—May is National Electrical Safety Month, and [Insert Company/Organization Name] is joining with the Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI) to raise awareness about potential home electrical hazards and the importance of electrical safety. This year’s campaign challenges people across the country to evaluate the electrical safety of their own homes.
 
In the United States, home electrical problems cause more than 51,000 fires each year, resulting in more than 490 deaths, 1,400 injuries, and $1.3 billion in property damage, according to the National Fire Protection Association.
 
“The basement is one of the most commonly ignored areas of the home. Yet, it is also where some of the most essential—and expensive—home electrical equipment is kept,” explains [Insert Company/Organization contact].
 
Heating equipment and electrical distribution systems are two of the three leading causes of home structure fires. Help keep your home safe by learning the basics of how these systems work and making sure they are properly maintained with these tips from [Insert Organization/Company Name]:
  • To determine when your electrical system was last inspected, check the label on the cover of your electrical service panel.
  • Be sure circuit breakers and fuses are correctly labeled with their amperage and what rooms, circuits, or outlets they service. Use correct size and current rating for breakers/fuses.
  • Increase your fire protection by having a qualified, licensed electrician replace your standard circuit breakers with combination-type arc fault circuit interrupter (AFCI) breakers.
  • Have your furnace cleaned and inspected annually by a licensed, qualified professional.
  • Lower the setting on water heater thermostats to 120 degrees Fahrenheit or below.
  • Clean the dryer lint filter after each load, and keep the area around the dryer free of clutter.
  • Check periodically for excessive vibration or movement when the washing machine or dryer is operating, which can put stress on electrical connections.
Electrical safety awareness and education among consumers, families, employees, and communities will prevent electrical fires, injuries, and fatalities. Visit ESFI’s Virtual Home at http://virtualhome.esfi.org to learn more about home electrical safety.
 
[Insert Organization boilerplate]
 
The Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI) sponsors National Electrical Safety Month each May to increase public awareness of the electrical hazards around us at home, work, school, and play. ESFI is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated exclusively to promoting electrical safety. For more information about ESFI and electrical safety, visit www.electrical-safety.org.
 
# # #