Funding to support new fire safety program for Hispanics
Cincinnati, January 25, 2011 - The Cincinnati Fire Department is receiving a $10,000 grant to purchase a bilingual 911 simulator and provide smoke detectors to local families in disadvantaged neighborhoods. The 911 simulator is the first of its kind in the city and aims to teach Hispanic families and students about the importance of the 911 emergency system. Both the simulator and the smoke detector program are designed to save lives through increased safety awareness. "We appreciate State Farm's commitment to meeting the needs of our community. This funding allows us to sustain the 2011 Safe Summer Nights Program, and provided a new educational tool with bi-lingual capability to teach children and other "at risk" groups how to use the 911 system. The Cincinnati Fire Department is extremely grateful to State Farm Insurance," stated Fire Chief Richard Braun.
The simulator will be unveiled on Tuesday, January 25, 2011 at Roberts Paideia Academy which is home to a growing number of Hispanic students. "State Farm is continually looking for ways to help make our communities safer. With a growing Hispanic population in the Greater Cincinnati area, it is important there is no language barrier or lack of understanding when it comes to emergency preparedness. That is why we are excited to provide the Cincinnati Fire Department with funding for this critical resource," said Lisa Ripley, spokeswoman for State Farm Insurance. Roberts Paideia Academy is located at 1702 Grand Avenue.
The Cincinnati Fire Department will distribute the smoke detectors as part of its Safe Summer Nights program. From May to October, fire companies target neighborhoods during evening hours, distributing and installing smoke alarms, batteries and carbon monoxide alarms for those in need. The program was created by the fire department in 1999 in response to fire deaths associated with a lack of functional smoke detectors. According to the National Fire Protection Association, roughly half of the fatalities resulting during home fires occur in homes without alarms or with alarms that are not properly maintained.
Lisa Ripley, State Farm Insurance, (859) 282-5121.
Watch firsthand as Hispanic students learn how to use the 911 emergency system on the interactive state-of-the-art simulator.
State Farm insures more cars and homes than any other insurer in the U.S., is the leading insurer of watercraft and is also a leading insurer in Canada. Our 17,800 agents and more than 66,000 employees serve 81 million policies and accounts - more than 79 million auto, fire, life and health policies in the United States and Canada, and nearly 2 million bank accounts. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Company is the parent of the State Farm family of companies. State Farm is ranked No. 34 on the Fortune 500 list of largest companies. For more information, please visit statefarm.com® or in Canada statefarm.ca®.
