Dublin Fire Brigade Halloween Safety Initiative
On the 20th of October the Lord Mayor Cllr. Emer Costello launched the Dublin City Council / Dublin Fire Brigade Halloween Safety Initiative in Ballyfermot Civic Centre.
Boxer Bernard Dunne lent his support to the day along with the Gardaí, the D.S.P.C.A and Dublin Bus. The event was attended 5th and 6th class students from Primary Schools in the local area.
The campaign highlights safety tips for a Happy Halloween including:
- Stay Smart and Play Safe
- Bonfires and fireworks are extremely dangerous and can cause a lot of injuries and damage.
- Respect Dublin Fire Brigade Fire Ambulance and Rescue Service, An Gardaí Siochana, the Emergency Services and Council Staff in doing their jobs
- Attend events throughout Dublin City and County that have been organised by the Local Authorities.
In conjunction with the launch a Halloween Safety Pack containing leaflets, posters and a safety DVD, made by Dublin Fire Brigade, was sent to all the primary schools in Dublin.
The campaign also includes a Freephone number, 1800 251 500, to enable concerned citizens to report stock piling of material for bonfires in the Dublin City Area. 
Pictured above was Bernard Dunne, Lord Mayor of Dublin Emer Costello, Chief Fire Officer of Dublin Fire Brigade, Hugh O'Neill with Kerri McGrattan, (age 10), Rachel Flynn, (age 11) and Megan Silver, (age 10). Photo by Jason Clarke Photography.
See below links to the following:
Children’s Artwork reminds us how to stay safe from fire at Christmas and into the New Year
10th December 2008: Primary children show us all how we can take steps to prevent fire this Christmas and into the New Year at the launch of Dublin Fire Brigade’s annual Children’s Fire Safety Calendar by Lord Mayor Eibhlin Byrne. Read more about the Children's Fire Safety Calendar.
The calendar contains twelve poignant paintings, one for each month of 2009, by Dublin school children on fire risks in the home and it is being sent to all schools throughout Dublin this month. Dublin Fire Brigade encourages householders to do a fire risk assessment in their home by providing a new Fire Safety leaflet and checklist available in Dublin’s public libraries.
“The beautiful and thought provoking artwork that the children have created will serve as a reminder that will last well into the New Year: we all need to take a few simple measures to make our homes safe from fire,” says Lord Mayor Eibhlin Byrne. “It’s surprising how the simplest things are often the triggers that cause fire and devastation at Christmas, such as faulty fairy lights and unattended candles. Dublin Fire Brigade have told me that in recent years a number of fires have also been caused by people using indoor lights on the outside of their homes.”
Dublin Fire Brigade deals with more fires in homes over the Christmas and winter period than at any other time of the year. On average 50 people die in fires in Ireland every year and there have been many thousands of fires in homes in Ireland in the past year.
“Fire hazards increase at this time of year due to a more relaxed attitude, Christmas lights being left on for too long, sockets being overloaded and candles left burning. The majority of deaths by fire are in homes with no smoke alarms or even worse, with fire alarms that don’t work,” says Hugh O’Neill, Chief Fire Officer, Dublin Fire Brigade. “Dublin Fire Brigade’s theme for this season is Don’t let fire ruin your Christmas and we encourage everybody to take a few minutes to consider our practical advice and tips.”
“Smoke alarms really do save lives as smoke causes the majority of fire deaths and serious injury in Irish homes. We are calling on all households to make themselves aware of the fire risks in their home this Christmas and to have an evacuation route and ensure that there are at least two smoke alarms in good working order – one upstairs and one downstairs,” said Chief Hugh O’Neill. Read more about Fire Safety at Christmas.
For further information:
Neasa Kane / Sharon Waters, Mary Murphy Associates, 01-284 6338 / 087-232 0038
The 2009 Fire Safety Planner