National Fire Protection Association Blog

NFPA joins social media site, Pinterest

Did you know that NFPA has recently joined Pinterest? We have! For those of you who have not heard about the new social media site, Pinterest can best be described as a virtual pinboard. It lets you organize and share images and videos from all over the web in one place. Best of all, you can browse pinboards created by other people or organizations. Browsing pinboards is a fun way to discover new things and get inspiration from people who share your interests.

Take a look at NFPA's Pinterest profile today and become a follower of our pins! Share any images you like of ours, and be sure to share with us, any photos you have that we may like. Photos with Sparky are always a favorite! 

September/October issue of NFPA Journal now available in digital and app versions

 

The latest issue of NFPA Journal, featuring our stories on the Latin American prison fire problem and the impact of mitigation techniques on wildfires, is available as a digital reader and in app form—two great new ways to enjoy Journal anytime, anywhere.

The digital reader is a Web-based version of Journal that shows you the magazine exactly as it appears in print—except that all Web links and emails, in both stories and ads, are live and clickable. The digital reader also includes versions optimized for iPad, iPhone, and Android.

The NFPA Journal app, available through Apple's app store, lets you download the magazine and create your own library of Journals that you can read whenever you want, even if you're offline. If you're using it with a Web connection, you have all the flexibility that you do with the digital reader: watch embedded slideshows and videos, link to products and services, share stories with colleagues, and much more. The app is designed for iPad and iPhone.

Vote for your favorite finalist in our fire service video contest

Recently, NFPA, IAFC and NVFC asked career firefighters, volunteer firefighters or other fire department employees and fire service members to submit a video that highlights their fire company operationally demonstrating firefighter health and safety.

The contest was run under the theme of NVFC and IAFC's combined International Fire/EMS Safety and Health Week (June 17-23, 2012) of “Rules You Can Live By.”

A panel of judges from NFPA, IAFC and NVFC have selected two finalists - the Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue for their video "Rules you can LIVE by," and Westampton Township Emergency Services for their video "Rules of Engagement for Firefighter Health." 

Congratulations to our finalists! Everyone is able to vote on their favorite finalist once per day through June 11th. Vote here if you are a Facebook member and here if you do not have a Facebook account. 

NFPA joins Google+ and wants to be a member of your circles

NFPA recently joined Google+ and created a business page. For those not yet familiar with the new social platform, take a look at how Google describes their new site; 

Google+ makes connecting on the web more like connecting in the real world. Share your thoughts, links and photos with the right circles. Use easy, spontaneous video chat to strike up conversations with as many as nine people at once. Get everyone on the same page with fast, simple group chat. We’re very excited about the new approach to sharing we’ve created through Google+, but this is really just the beginning.

If you are already a Google+ user, be sure to add NFPA to your circles. If not, take a look around and check out some of the interesting features, you might just sign up for an account while you are there!

-Lauren Backstrom

Boston Business Journal praises NFPA's social media efforts

Lisa van der Pool chatted recently with NFPA's Lorraine Carli about NFPA's use of social media to help spread the organizations messages. Lisa praises NFPA's great success on social sites such as Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, You Tube and various blogs. 

Lorraine explained, “People who are engaged with the NFPA are ... are very passionate about this issue,” said Carli. “And we’re committed to giving them the kind of material they need.”

Surprised by one video with soaring view numbers, Lisa highlights NFPA’s top YouTube video, with nearly 200,000 hits, showing how fast a dry Christmas tree burns, compared to one that’s been watered. Watch it below.

Lisa also commented that NFPA’s social media success is not all that surprising. A new report from Craigslist founder Craig Newmark, who examined which nonprofit issues were the most talked about on social media sites, discovered that disaster relief is one of the most-talked about subjects on social media.

Thanks to Lisa for her encouragement and support! Check out her complete article here. 

NFPA's Fire & Life Safety Conference blog gets kicked off!

We have officially started our Fire & Life Safety Conference blog back up this week. With the Conference coming up in mid-December, we will be sharing news and updates leading up to the event, as well as highlighting some of the expert presentations, travel and lodging information and fun things to do while in Orlando.

Take a look at our first few posts - one a personal invite to attend and another highlighting Ron Cote's NFPA 101 presentation on December 12. Then, be sure to keep checking back for more!

NFPA's Fire & Life Safety Conference offers more than 60 educational sessions in four targeted tracks presented in three action-packed days by staff experts and committee members. Register for this event today!

-Lauren Backstrom

Sparky the Fire Dog seeks college students to help spread fire safety messages

Sparky the Fire Dog is teaming up with The Center for Campus Fire Safety (CCFS) and asking college students to submit 30- or 60-second video public service announcements (PSAs) highlighting the importance of fire safety. 

Video submissions will be accepted throughout Campus Fire Safety Month, September 1-30. The winner of this contest will receive a $500 gift card!

The contest is part of Sparky’s expanded public outreach efforts during the year-long observance of his 60th birthday. In celebration of his six decades as a fire safety icon, Sparky is asking college students to brush up on lessons they may have learned as children and to take a fresh look at fire prevention and safety information that will help them prevent fires and protect themselves as they live independently from their parents in on- or off-campus housing. Read NFPA's fact sheet on campus fire safety.

For more information on the contest, including how to enter, please visit Sparky's Birthday website. 

-Lauren Backstrom

Help us reach our goal of 20,000 Facebook fans by August 20th!

A few weeks back, we noticed we were getting close to the huge milestone of 20,000 Facebook fans on our NFPA fan page! We decided it would be fun to put target date on the event - and thought August 20th was a great choice.

So, we're now 15 days from our target date and have a little over 300 fans to go before we reach our goal.

Here's where you step in: if you are not yet a fan of the NFPA Facebook page, do so today! Simply visit our page and click on the "like" button on the top of the page. We post news, events, photos and videos up there regularly - so you'll be even more informed about what's going on here at NFPA.

We appreciate the support of all of our fans, and your help in helping us reach our goal!

-Lauren Backstrom

NFPA launches 2011 Fire Prevention Week blog!

Today, NFPA launched the annual Fire Prevention Week blog! We have exciting new FPW information to share. Our blogging team has expanded to include representatives from several different areas at NFPA - public affairs, marketing, web publishing, the home fire sprinkler initiative, and, of course, public education.

This year’s theme is “Protect Your Family from Fire.” We are focusing on three key areas – smoke alarms, escape planning, and home fire sprinklers. And, “family” covers everyone from a family of one to a hundred and one. This theme is for you.

By now I’m sure you’ve had a chance to take a look at the FPW site – your source for everything you need for the campaign. We’ll be blogging daily on interesting topics from high-risk issues to products to website materials and even interesting experiences of our blog team.

Check out the first post and make sure to come back each day for more!

You're invited to join the conversation on NFPA's social media channels

The best way to stay safe is to stay informed. Take a look at our new Social Media page for "one-stop shopping" -- an easy way to connect with NFPA’s many social media channels. Get all of the latest news on the organization and its initiatives. Be sure to join the conversation and provide us with your feedback, thoughts, ideas and questions!