ST. LOUIS, MO--(Marketwire - June 1, 2009) - With the first day of June marking the start
of hurricane season, Energizer (
NYSE:
ENR), the International Association
of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) and the many fire departments that serve communities
in hurricane prone areas are asking families to be prepared with the Power
Through It All™ program. The program encourages families to assemble an
emergency power kit to get ready for any power outages they might face from
severe weather. Additionally, the Power Through It All program provides
tips to help families stay safe and connected during hurricane season.
When building an emergency power kit, Energizer and the IAFC remind
families never to use candles for light during a power outage. In addition
to a flashlight for each member of the family, an emergency power kit
should include a battery-powered radio to help families track the progress
of a storm, a battery-powered cell phone charger to help loved ones stay in
touch and replacement batteries.
Why Flashlights Instead of Candles
According to the National Fire Protection Association, candles are the
third leading cause of injuries from home fires, following cooking and
heating*. Therefore, the simple step of making sure there are flashlights
and lanterns handy, that the batteries are fresh, and that you have an
emergency power kit readily available, could save your family's life.
"Facing a hurricane is frightening enough, so you don't want to expose your
family to the secondary risk of an accidental home fire," says Chief Larry
J. Grorud, president of the International Association of Fire Chiefs.
According to the National Fire Protection Association, on average, one home
fire caused by candles is reported every 34 minutes*. "Making sure you are
prepared with a flashlight or lantern for each member of your family helps
reduce that risk in case of a power outage."
"As first responders to all emergencies, our partners at the IAFC know
firsthand the danger that can arise from an accidental home fire. Making
sure people are educated on our program and the dangers of using candles
when the power goes out will no doubt be life-saving," said Betsy Laakko,
Director of Marketing for Energizer.
Important Tips for Building a Power Through It All™ kit:
-- Put the Power Through It All™ kit in a location that is easily
accessible to every family member.
-- Include at least one flashlight for every member of the household,
such as a Compact LED Flashlight.
-- Include a battery-powered lantern for illuminating larger spaces and
rooms.
-- Include a battery-operated weather radio to track the storm.
-- Include extra batteries in a variety of cell sizes, such as
Energizer® MAX® batteries (AA, C, D) for extended power outages, along
with extra batteries for critical care devices like hearing aids and
glucose monitors.
-- Include battery-operated cell phone chargers like an Energizer®
Energi To Go® to keep your family connected during severe weather.
-- Include Energizer® Ultimate Lithium batteries to power high drain
devices like cell phone chargers. Lithium batteries have a longer storage
life and perform well in extreme temperatures.
Keep Safe. Keep Going®
Power Through It All™ is part of the Energizer year-long family
preparedness program, Keep Safe. Keep Going® which also includes the
Change Your Clock Change Your Battery® program in the fall.
The Change Your Clock Change Your Battery® program was started in 1987 by
Energizer and the International Association of Fire Chiefs as a way to
remind people to change the batteries in their smoke alarms and carbon
monoxide detectors when they change their clocks back to Standard Time in
the fall.
For a complete list of tips for preparing for storms and important home
fire safety tips, visit the Keep Safe. Keep Going® website,
www.energizer.com/preparedness.
About the International Association of Fire Chiefs
The International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC),
http://www.iafc.org,
headquartered in Fairfax, Va., represents the leadership of over 1.2
million firefighters and emergency responders. The organization champions
fire safety and prevention through efforts such as the Change Your Clock
Change Your Battery® program. IAFC members are the world's leading
experts in firefighting, emergency medical services, terrorism response,
hazardous materials spills, natural disasters, search and rescue and public
safety legislation. Since 1873, the IAFC has provided a forum for its
members to exchange ideas and uncover the latest products and services
available to first responders. The IAFC's mission is to provide leadership
to career and volunteer chiefs, chief fire officers, company officers and
managers of emergency service organizations throughout the international
community through vision, information, education, services and
representation to enhance their professionalism and capabilities.
About Energizer
Energizer Holdings, Inc. (
NYSE:
ENR),
www.energizer.com, headquartered in
St. Louis, Missouri, is one of the world's largest manufacturers of primary
batteries, battery-powered devices and flashlights. Energizer, a global
leader in the dynamic business of providing portable power geared toward
the new digital age, offers a full portfolio of products including the
Energizer® MAX® premium alkaline brand; Energizer® Ultimate Lithium;
Energizer® Advanced Lithium and Nickel Metal Hydride (NiMH) Rechargeable
batteries and chargers.
The Energizer product line also includes specialty batteries for hearing
aids, health and fitness devices, as well as for keyless remote entry
systems, watches and other uses. Through its flashlight and lighting
products unit, Energizer helps bring consumer insight and innovation to
these important household devices. Energizer continues its role as a
technology leader with Energizer® Energi To Go®, portable
battery-powered chargers for cell phones.
*Statistics provided by the National Fire Protection Association
To view this release in a media-rich format, go to:
http://www.pwrnewmedia.com/2009/energizer_90601/index.html
Contact Information: Erin Greenman
(314.727.5700, x114)
Samantha Fisher
(314.727.5700, x101)
Edie Clark
IAFC
(703.896.4827)