SAFE KIDS FOUNDATION AND PUNE FIRE DEPARTMENT URGE PUNEKARS TO CELEBRATE A SAFE DIWALI
Community engagement programs, roadshows, mall events and street plays to add color to awareness campaign.
Pune, October 20, 2016: With the intent to avert fire related accidents especially among kids during the Diwali festivities, Safe Kids Foundation, a leading NGO, in collaboration with the Pune Fire Department has launched a citywide fire safety awareness drive. Today, the Safe Kids at Home program, a fire safety awareness campaign funded by Honeywell India, has reached out to more than 66,500 parents and 85,000 children in Pune since its launch in November 2015.
While launching the campaign, Ms. Prerna Deshbhratar, Additional Municipal Commissioner, Pune Municipal Corporation (Special) said, “In recent years, the number of fire accidents among children, especially during Diwali has risen. We have been taking several steps to educate, create awareness among the citizens of Pune and inculcate a sense of responsible supervision of children playing with fire crackers. We appeal to citizens to buy firecrackers from licensed shops, burst fire crackers in an open space and spread the message of fire safety to their near and dear ones. This Diwali should be beyond firecrackers and people should adapt to more pleasant ways of celebration.”
Mr. Prashant Ranpise, Chief Fire Office, Pune Fire Department urged Punekars to be conscious of the damage that can be caused even due to minor fire mishaps especially during Diwali, when more fire and burn incidents among children are reported. He further said, “While our teams are prepared to respond to any fire incident in the city, following simple fire safety norms and celebrating the festival responsibly can prevent accidents and keep families safe.”
The Indian Journal of Burns highlights that each year the highest number of burn cases are reported from August through October, which is the festive season in India. According to general physicians too, firecrackers are among top hazards leading to burns and scalds.
Present at the occasion, Dr. Cinthia Pinto, Program Director, Safe Kids Foundation, said, “Safe Kids Foundation in association with Honeywell works towards creating safer homes and protecting children from the risks of fire and burns inside the seemingly safe enclosures of our homes. This awareness drive in Pune aims to reduce injuries caused due to fire and burns during Diwali, especially among children and we wish no child should get injured during this Diwali due to firecrackers. Safe Kids Foundation appreciates the support of the Pune Fire Department, Pune Municipal Corporation, doctors, our partner Honeywell and other stakeholders towards fulfilling our objective of making Pune a model ‘Safe Kids at Home’ city in India.”
The Safe Kids at Home program aims to reach 325,000 students and 175,000 parents by 2017 through innovative, experiential, and fun educational tools.
Ms. Sangita Ghalay, Head – CSR, Honeywell India, said, “Safe Kids at Home is not just about conducting training modules on fire safety and assessing outcomes, it also motivates people to act responsibly. Children become the pivot for driving a strong safety culture, encouraging citizens and civic agencies to come together and make Pune a safe and a smart city”.
As a part of the week long campaign, Safe Kids Foundation will conduct an awareness drive at Phoenix City Mall on October 22 and 23. Children and parents visiting the mall will be encouraged to participate in informative quizzes and games on fire safety. Safe Kids Foundation will also engage citizens through community-led programs at schools, via roadshows and street plays, to educate them about the importance of fire safety, urging them to act responsibly.
About Safe Kids Foundation
Safe Kids Foundation became a member of Safe Kids Worldwide in 2006 and works in close collaboration with Safe Kids Worldwide to improve the lives of children in India. Safe Kids Foundation works with non-profit organizations, governments and schools to promote awareness and teach that accidental deaths and injuries are preventable. Safe Kids Foundation has done extensive and commendable work in the field of road safety. Safe Kids’ ‘Walk This Way’ pedestrian safety program, sponsored by FedEx, was launched in Mumbai in 2007 to address pedestrian-related injuries to children. The program has expanded to two additional cities, Delhi in 2009 and Ahmedabad in 2010. From 2007 through 2016, more than 3000 schools and nearly 4.5 million children have been reached through education activities, playing a critical role in improving road safety for children in these cities. ’Safe Kids at Home’ program, sponsored by Honeywell was launched in Pune, in November 2015, to ensure the safety of children, particularly in Pune, from the dangers of burns and scalds. The program aims to cover 325,000 children and 175,000 parents in the next 2 years. The overall goal of the program is to reduce injuries caused due to fire and burns and to prevent life threatening injuries. For more information, refer to www.safekidsfoundation.org.
