Airport officials encourage families to develop two emergency escape routes
ATLANTA – 2012-10-11 — /travelprnews.com/ — Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport and the City of Atlanta’s Fire Rescue Department kicked off national Fire Prevention Week on Monday morning with a public message to announce a weeklong event to promote fire safety.
Throughout the week, the Airport will have fire equipment and safety exhibits and will offer free blood pressure checks in the Atrium. Fire and crime prevention personnel will be on site to answer travelers’ safety questions from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. daily through October 12.
“Safety and security are our two top priorities at Hartsfield-Jackson, and we want to encourage our customers and employees to always think safety while in the comforts of their homes,” said Richard Duncan, assistant general manager for Public Safety and Security. “There are more than 250 fire personnel who work at the Airport, so this campaign is very important to us. Installing working smoke detectors, inspecting electrical cords and keeping space heaters at least three feet away from anything that can burn are just a few steps families can take to eliminate home fire hazards.”
The theme of this year’s national campaign, “Have Two Ways Out,” also encourages families to practice at least two emergency escape routes in the event of a fire. The goal of Fire Prevention Week is to educate families about what causes home fires, how to prevent them and what to do in an emergency situation.
“We are issuing a call for individuals and their families to make a personal pledge to develop a fire prevention plan that gives them two ways to escape from their homes in the event of a disaster,” said Randall Slaughter, deputy chief of field operations for Atlanta Fire Rescue. “Individuals should practice their fire safety plans at least twice a year and check smoke detectors regularly to ensure they are working properly.”
Fire departments nationwide will observe Fire Prevention Week by providing the public with tools and techniques to help reduce the loss of life and property.
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Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport
Hartsfield-Jackson is the world’s busiest airport, serving more than 92 million passengers annually with nonstop service to 160 U.S. destinations and nearly 70 international destinations in more than 45 countries. The Airport is a frequent recipient of awards of excellence for concessions, operations, architectural engineering and construction – including the 2011 Global and North American Airport Efficiency Excellence Award from the Air Transport Research Society (for more information, go to www.atrsworld.org). It is undergoing $6 billion-plus in capital improvements, which include a new, energy-efficient rental car center; a new, 12-gate international terminal (for more information, go to www.atlanta-airport.com/internationalterminal/; and aesthetic and functional upgrades to its concourses, people movers and parking services. For more information, go to www.atlanta-airport.com. Check out the Airport’s YouTube channel by visiting http://www.youtube.com/AtlantaHartsfield, and become a fan on Facebook.
Contact: Sonji Jacobs
(404) 330-6558