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 The Sound Advice program is an established fire safety and prevention program.
The program is at no cost to participants with its target groups being the elderly and young children. The program’s goal is to provide fire safety to all regardless of economic stature. The overall objective of the program is to reduce the number of fire related deaths, injuries and property damage in Vermont.
The program provides for a detailed fire safety inspection of the residence which includes the installation of new or additional smoke detectors and CO detectors if necessary. Additionally, a fire evacuation plan is formulated, practiced and written copy provided to the occupants. Presentations can be made at local senior centers and elementary schools on fire safety topics along with the particulars of the Sound Advice program.
The benefits of this project are number one, life safety and a decrease in fire fatalities. Beyond that the goal is a decrease in fire related injuries as well as subsequent medical and insurance costs. Early detection of fires has showed a proven reduction in structural damage and associated costs to the fire service as a whole.
The Sound Advice program, established in 2001 under the auspices of the White River Valley Ambulance, a non profit 501.c.3 organization, addresses the need for prevention and education through increased fire safety awareness, education, and the installation of smoke detection equipment as needed, free of charge to Vermont residents.
The Sound Advice program was established through a coalition between White River Valley Ambulance, Fire Safety Management Inc. and the Gifford Medical Center. Partnerships have been formed with the State of Vermont Department of Health, Council on the Aging, the Orange County Parent Child Center, Central Vermont Community Action Council, local fire departments and pharmacies. The Coalition was created in response to findings in the Vermont Department of Public Safety’s 2000 Hazards Inventory and Risk Assessment (HIRA). HIRA states that Vermont has the highest per capita death rate from fire in the nation. It is the deadliest form of disaster in the State of Vermont.
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Monthly stats are prepared and presented to the Coalition members. Evaluations are conducted within the program to determine its effectiveness and ability to remain on target with waiting lists of potential inspections. Feedback is solicited from all participants through follow up mailings. Fire statistics are compiled, evaluated and analyzed routinely to track trends and the effectiveness of the program. The success of the program is apparent based on the number of inspections performed, detectors installed, hazards identified, evacuation plans formulated and distributed and the overall increased awareness of fire safety that the program has generated throughout the State of Vermont.
According to the latest statistics published by the State of Vermont, most civilian fire deaths occur in one - two family dwellings and multi family dwellings. Smoking materials were the leading cause of Vermont fire deaths between 1995 and 2004. The installation of smoke detectors in Vermont is governed under the Vermont Fire Prevention and Building Code. All new homes must be smoke detector equipped and existing homes when sold or transferred must be smoke detector equipped in accordance with manufacturers instructions.
Smoke detectors should be located on each level of the residence.
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Fire Safety Management, Inc.
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