Countryside Fire knows 'Close Before You Doze'

Underwriters Laboratories (UL) sponsored a nationwide Close Before You Doze video contest last year with $75,000 in prize money. Countryside Fire District participated in the contest and were a finalist with a video created by James Altschul and Sebastian Domenech of Vernon Hills High School, which secured $5,000 of the winnings.

Countryside Fire District earmarked these funds for the Fire & Life Safety programs provided in the 16 schools and community they serve. Countryside Fire has had a boulevard banner program in place for 10 years and utilized the Close Before You Doze artwork to add this message on the roadways of their fire district.

Fire & Life Safety Director Tony Rodkey stated, "According to Illinois Department of Transportation, annually, we have approximately eleven million vehicles passing through our fire district/Illinois State highways of Rt. 45, Rt. 60, Rt. 83 and Rt. 176."

"These boulevard banners are very visible, easy to read and a great way to reach that many people," Rodkey added.

Underwriters Laboratories have been doing studies for the past 10 years and proving that by closing your bedroom door you can make a 900 degree difference if a house fire were to occur.

"As part of the Great Escape Challenge, Countryside Fire District has been teaching fourth grade students to sleep with bedroom doors closed for over 20 years because, additionally we also teach to check the door for heat when you hear a smoke alarm," Rodkey said.

The studies by UL reinforce what we already believed to be a positive behavior and Countryside Fire District wants to share this information with everyone to improve community risk reduction. Coupled to together, working smoke alarms, home fire escape plans and sleeping with your bedroom door closed can help save lives.

For more information go to

https:// ulfirefightersafety.org/research-projects/close-your-door.html and remember to Close Before You Doze.