ERIE Launches Fire Prevention Week

Oct. 15, 2008 - Third grade students from Pfeiffer-Burleigh and Luther Memorial Learning Center got a lesson in fire prevention last week.

Their teacher? ERIE’s lovable cartoon character named Ernie.

President and CEO Terry Cavanaugh introduced new fire safety coloring books and other fire safety educational resources featuring Ernie to the Erie community at an event launching Fire Prevention Week.

The event, held Oct. 6, was co-sponsored by Erie Insurance and the Erie Fire Department where it was held.

“Fires kill more Americans each year than all natural disasters combined, and home fires are the number one disaster that children are most likely to experience,” said Terry. “But fire doesn’t have to be deadly, and nearly all home fires are preventable.

“That’s why we’re proud to be introducing these new Erie Insurance fire safety materials, to coincide with the kickoff of Fire Prevention Week,” he continued.

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Ernie’s Fire Safety Club

ERIE just recently launched a new site to promote fire safety for children: Ernie’s Safety Club.

The site features videos, printable worksheets, and interactive activities that entertain and teach kids about fire safety.

Students at the Neighborhood Art House, who assisted in developing the fire safety materials, got a chance to see the new site on Sept. 22.

“The kids loved it,” says Senior Events and Community Relations Specialist Diann Graham, who arranged the Art House test. “Whenever we asked who wanted to try the next screen, all the children’s hands shot up.”

New tools for Agents

With the development of coloring books and other Ernie-themed educational resources promoting fire safety, ERIE Agents like Robin Margosian and Marybeth Baran have new tools to help them keep the children in their communities safe.

“I love the new Ernie coloring books,” said Margosian of Laskowski Insurance in Erie, Pa. “The thing that I like most about them is that there are coloring books for two different age groups — one for K-2 and one for grades 3-5.

“The coloring books are also comprehensive and easy to read,” she continued. “We use fire safety resources year round with kids that come into our agency.”

Margosian will soon team up with another local Agent, Marybeth Baran of Northshore Insurance, to conduct a school presentation about fire safety.

“I’m really looking forward to working with Robin on our presentation,” said Baran. “I brought a number of coloring books back with me from the event and plan to order even more,” she continued. “We’re also going to hang Ernie fire safety posters around our office.”

Employees get in on the action

While the new fire safety materials were developed primarily for ERIE Agents, Employees like Danny King are also eager to use them to help keep kids safe.

The lead security officer at ERIE's Home Office is a volunteer firefighter for the Lawrence Park Fire Department. King plans to distribute Ernie coloring books at all the Fire Prevention Week presentations he will deliver to children in his community this month.

“I’m excited to be among the first Employees to be using these materials,” said King. “It’s my hope that the information inside the new coloring books will help save many lives.”

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