2023-0256
Title
Proclamation: "Fire Prevention Week"
Body
P R O C L A M A T I O N
WHEREAS, St. Charles Parish is committed to ensuring the safety and security of all those living in and visiting our parish; and,
WHEREAS, fire is a serious public safety concern both locally and nationally, and homes are the locations where people are at greatest risk from fire; and,
WHEREAS, home fires killed more than 2,800 people in the United States in 2021, according to the National Fire Protection Association(r), and fire departments in the United States responded to 338,000 home fires; and,
WHEREAS, nearly 4000 Americans die each year in house fires and over 2000 are severely injured. In only 3 1/2 minutes, the heat from a house fire can reach over 1100 degrees Fahrenheit; and,
WHEREAS, cooking is the leading cause of home fires in the United States and fire departments responded to more than 166,400 annually between 2016 and 2020; and,
WHEREAS, two of every five home fires start in the kitchen with 31% of these fires resulting from unattended cooking; and,
WHEREAS, more than half of reported non-fatal home cooking fire injuries occurred when the victims tried to fight the fire themselves; and,
WHEREAS, children under five face a higher risk of non-fire burns associated with cooking than being burned in a cooking fire; and,
WHEREAS, house fires cause an average of 2,620 civilian deaths each year. The majority of home fire deaths are caused by smoke inhalation. Every year 500 children (14 and younger) are killed by fire. More than 50% of children ages 5 and younger die while asleep during a fire; and,
WHEREAS, first responders are dedicated to reducing the occurrence of home fires and home fire injuries through prevention and protection education; and,
WHEREAS, the 2023 Fire Prevention Week theme, "Cooking safety starts with YOU! Pay attention to fire prevention" effectively serves to remind us to stay alert and use caution when cooking to reduce the risk of kitchen fires...
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