Don't wait for a squirrel – put out your cigarette butt

November 10, 2020

Since the beginning of the year, over 750 fires have occurred due to careless handling of fire while smoking, resulting in 225 fatalities.

Since the beginning of the year, over 750 fires have occurred due to careless handling of fire while smoking, resulting in 225 fatalities. A carelessly discarded, unextinguished cigarette often leads to irreparable consequences. Many consider this a trivial matter not worth attention. And perhaps, not everyone can grasp the magnitude of the problem. Examples from the Ministry of Emergency Situations reports do not serve as a warning of danger for everyone. Moreover, in almost all cases of fatalities, they could have been avoided if people had understood that they were creating the tragedy with their own hands. Until everyone realizes the full seriousness and depth of the problem, the outcome will remain tragically predictable and inevitable.

Rescuers are constantly seeking new creative ways to engage with the public so that citizens understand the importance of adhering to safety rules, as this is the foundation for a culture of life safety. "Don't wait for a squirrel – put out your cigarette butt!" – billboards with this slogan appeared on the streets of Belarusian cities this autumn. This is a social initiative by the Ministry of Emergency Situations aimed at motivating tobacco product consumers to extinguish their cigarette butts in all possible smoking areas: apartments, balconies, nature, etc. Not only billboards will remind people about the need to observe smoking safety rules. Thematic audio clips will also urge careless citizens to extinguish their cigarette butts, and in video clips, people will see an entire "squirrel squad" successfully tackling this problem, setting an example for people in observing smoking safety rules. Presentation events for the new information and propaganda campaign will be held in major shopping centers of regional cities, as well as in shops in district towns (in rural areas). Follow the progress of the campaign on the Ministry of Emergency Situations website, as well as in the media.