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The Hartford Pledges Support To Hartford For Fire Safety

HIG | September 5, 2017

The Hartford Pledges Support To Hartford For Fire Safety

Insurer brings Junior Fire Marshal® program to the city and donates a total of $20,000 to the school district and fire department; also distributes educational materials to more than 5,500 students
Sept. 14 proclaimed Junior Fire Marshal Day in Connecticut; The Hartford’s CEO Christopher Swift to deputize more than 200 students as junior fire marshals

A home fire is reported in the U.S. every 86 seconds and 33 percent of home fires are started by children 6-9 years old¹. As part of the 70th anniversary of The Hartford’s Junior Fire Marshal program, The Hartford is donating a total of $20,000 to the Hartford Public School District and the Hartford Fire Department to educate children about fire safety.

“We are proud of the legacy of The Hartford’s Junior Fire Marshal program and the life-saving lessons it has taught to millions of children around the country, however, there is still more we can do to help build safer communities,” said The Hartford’s Chairman and CEO Christopher Swift. “By bringing the Junior Fire Marshal program to Hartford, our goal is to empower the everyday kids in our own community to become everyday heroes by providing them with the tools and training to help reduce the risk of home fires.”

In addition, to the monetary donation, The Hartford will also distribute Junior Fire Marshal educational materials to all children in kindergarten through third grade in the Hartford Public School District. The Hartford Junior Fire Marshal classroom kit comes with company’s signature red fire helmets, an educator and parent guide and coloring posters designed to introduce fire safety concepts to children.

“The Hartford Fire Department witnesses first-hand the dangers of home fires and unfortunately, in many cases, children are involved,” said Chief Reginald Freeman, Hartford Fire Department. “We are proud to partner with The Hartford to teach children valuable fire safety lessons at an early age. This program will undoubtedly save lives.”

Earlier this year, The Hartford announced that it has made a three-year commitment to educate 1.5 million children on fire prevention and safety, and donate $2 million to the 100 cities with the highest home fire risk as identified in The Hartford's Home Fire Index.²

West Middle School Students Deputized as Junior Fire Marshals

September 14 is officially proclaimed Junior Fire Marshal Day in the state of Connecticut. To commemorate the day and kick-off the Junior Fire Marshal program in Hartford, Swift will join Hartford Fire Chief Reginald Freeman and Hartford Fire Department to host a hands-on fire safety day at West Middle School. More than 200 students in kindergarten through third grade will be deputized as junior fire marshals. The fire safety day includes a simulated fire and smoke demonstration in The Hartford Fire Safety House, an opportunity to meet local firefighters from the Hartford fire department, tour their fire truck and try on gear. The event will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. EDT.

“Ensuring that our students can grow in a safe and nurturing environment is one of our most important missions at Hartford Public Schools,” said Dr. Leslie Torres-Rodriguez, superintendent of schools. “We thank The Hartford and Fire Chief Freeman for partnering with us in this hands-on education program for our young students.”

The History of the Junior Fire Marshal Program

The Junior Fire Marshal program was started in 1947 by an employee of The Hartford, making it one of the country’s oldest corporate-sponsored public education programs. Since the program’s inception, The Hartford has deputized more than 110 million Junior Fire Marshals.

The company’s signature red fire helmets have been displayed proudly by generations of children who have learned the basics of fire safety through this innovative and educational program. The program teaches lifesaving lessons such as Stop, Drop and Roll, Go Low in Smoke and Draw a Home Fire Escape Plan. These lessons, along with other fun, engaging and educational activities, help parents and teachers have meaningful and vital fire safety conversations with children and students.

Over the years, celebrities such as Ron Howard, Dick Van Dyke, Jack Benny, Jimmy Dean, Mr. Green Jeans and Captain Kangaroo, Carol Channing, Red Skelton, Johnny Carson, Robert Young, Henry "the Fonz" Winkler and Presidents John F. Kennedy and Ronald Reagan have helped The Hartford recognize children who participated in the Junior Fire Marshal program.

For more information about The Hartford’s Home Fire Index and Junior Fire Marshal Program, visit www.thehartford.com/jfm.

¹According to the National Fire Protection Association

² The Hartford Home Fire Index is based on an analysis of the U.S. Fire Administration’s National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS) and a survey conducted by The Hartford on fire safety and prevention behaviors among the general population.

About The Hartford Home Fire Index

The Hartford Home Fire Index is based on a study of the largest U.S. cities with a minimum of 80,000 housing units as reported by the 2010 U.S. Census. The Hartford calculated a rate of residential fires using the number of residential structure fires from the 2014 National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS) data, dividing by 2010 U.S. Census housing units. The Hartford also conducted a survey on fire safety and prevention behaviors among the general population in late 2016 and in early 2017. Survey respondents (approximately 100 per city) were given a score based on adoption of fire safety best practices. Standardized fire rates and survey scores were averaged to produce a composite score for each city.

About The Hartford

The Hartford is a leader in property and casualty insurance, group benefits and mutual funds. With more than 200 years of expertise, The Hartford is widely recognized for its service excellence, sustainability practices, trust and integrity. More information on the company and its financial performance is available at https://www.thehartford.com. Follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/TheHartford_PR.

The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc., (NYSE: HIG) operates through its subsidiaries under the brand name, The Hartford, and is headquartered in Hartford, Conn. For additional details, please read The Hartford’s legal notice.

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