First Alert Celebrates 60 Years

Leader in Home Safety Celebrates a Legacy of “Firsts” As It Marks Its Anniversary with Refreshed Branding and Alarm Donation Program for Fire Departments

(Aurora, Ill.) May 9, 2018 – From typewriters to computers, hula-hoops to video games, the ways in which we live, work and play have changed drastically since 1958. While little of today’s world resembles the 1950s, what hasn’t changed during this time is First Alert’s commitment to protecting what matters most: loved ones, homes and valuables. As the most trusted brand in home safety, the company, founded in 1958, is celebrating its 60th anniversary this year with a look back at its many “firsts” and a continued commitment to innovation and reliable fire safety solutions.

“Since our founding and subsequent development of the world’s first residential smoke alarm, First Alert has led the residential safety market with innovations that have fundamentally transformed the way people live,” said Tarsila Wey, director of marketing at First Alert. “The invention of the smoke alarm is one of the greatest success stories in fire safety of the 20th century, helping save and protect countless lives. At First Alert, we’ve continued to push the boundaries of what’s possible with advancements in technology and detection to help people protect what matters most.”

Hear advice from firefighters on how to protect what matters most.

Protect what matters most with a variety of First Alert smoke and CO alarms with 10-year sealed batteries.

Prepare and practice your escape plan by identifying your route and safe meeting place.

Test all alarms once a month, and for alarms without 10-year batteries, batteries should be changed twice a year.

Install smoke and CO alarms on every level of the home, inside every bedroom and the main corridor outside each bedroom area.

First Alert celebrates 60 years of firsts and highlights importance of smoke and CO safety.

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Throughout its history, First Alert has been synonymous with many home safety “firsts,” including the following:

1969 – Introduced the first self-contained, battery-powered smoke alarm
1976 – Unveiled its first hard-wired smoke alarms
1978 – Developed the first dual photoelectric and ionization smoke alarm
1985 – Launched the first plastic head fire extinguisher
1993 – Introduced the first battery-operated carbon monoxide (CO) alarm
1995 – Launched the first 10-year sealed battery-operated smoke alarm
1997 – Released the first combination smoke and CO alarm
2003 – Released the first talking smoke alarm, with voice & location technology
2008 – Released first line of compact photoelectric smoke alarms
2012 – Introduced a micro alarm, First Alert’s smallest smoke alarm
2016 – Introduced a wireless alarm
2018 – Introduced the Onelink Safe & Sound, the first smoke and CO alarm with a superior home speaker and built-in Amazon Alexa

“From our groundbreaking battery-operated smoke alarm to the smart home technology featured in the brand new Onelink Safe & Sound, First Alert has consistently earned the title of the most trusted brand in home safety*, and we couldn’t be prouder of the hard work and dedication of the First Alert team throughout the years,” Wey said. “That being said, community outreach and education on fire safety is very important to us, and we’re immensely grateful to ongoing efforts of fire safety advocates and officials in helping achieve greater awareness of the importance of fire and carbon monoxide safety.”

As part of its ongoing education efforts, First Alert partners with fire departments and safety organizations throughout the country, offering educational resources, fire safety training materials and alarms for at-risk communities. The company donates thousands of smoke and CO alarms every year.

“60 Years of Thank Yous” to Fire Services
In honor of this legacy, First Alert is marking its 60th anniversary with a “60 Years of Thank Yous” campaign, donating 60 smoke alarms to 60 different fire departments across the country. According to the National Fire Protection Association, three out of every five home fire deaths occur in homes with either no smoking alarms, or in homes where alarms have been disabled or not working**. Entry details coming soon.

Beyond the 60th anniversary donation campaign, the company kicked off its “diamond” year with a refreshed new look, including an updated logo, website and packaging designs. The new branding, which resembles the Maltese cross pattern of many fire departments, harkens to the company’s heritage and history, while also paying tribute to its deep connection and commitment to fire services.

“While our look may be updated, First Alert’s reliability, quality, trustworthiness, and dedication to helping save lives continue to be the cornerstones of who we are,” Wey added. “We look forward to protecting people for another 60 years and beyond.”

For more information on fire safety and First Alert, visit www.firstalert.com.

*First Alert Brand Trust Survey, February 2018 – Results are based on the responses of 1,000 adults, ages 25 and older, living in the United States who completed an online survey, February 15-19, 2018. Results are statistically significant at a 95 percent confidence level and can be generalized to the entire adult population in the United States within those statistical parameters. For more information or a copy of the complete survey results, contact Tim Young at LCWA: 312/565-4628 or [email protected].

**National Fire Protection Association, 2016

About BRK Brands, Inc.
BRK Brands, Inc. (Aurora, IL), is a fully owned subsidiary of Newell Brands. For 60 years, BRK Brands, Inc. has been the manufacturer of First Alert^®-branded home-safety products, the most trusted and recognized safety brand in America. BRK^® Brands designs and develops innovative safety solutions including Tundra™ Fire Extinguishing Spray, Onelink by First Alert smart home products, a comprehensive line of smoke alarms, carbon monoxide alarms, fire extinguishers and escape ladders to protect what matters most. Such products are also marketed under the BRK Electronics^® brand, The Professional Standard for the builder and contractor audiences. BRK Brands, Inc. products are found in more than 30 countries worldwide. For more information, visit https://www.firstalert.com, https://www.brkelectronics.com or https://www.newellbrands.com.

About Newell Brands
Newell Brands (NYSE: NWL) is a leading global consumer goods company with a strong portfolio of well-known brands, including Paper Mate^®, Sharpie^®, Dymo^®, EXPO^®, Parker^®, Elmer’s^®, Coleman^®, Jostens^®, Marmot^®, Rawlings^®, Oster^®, Sunbeam^®, FoodSaver^®, Mr. Coffee^®, Rubbermaid Commercial Products^®, Graco^®, Baby Jogger^®, NUK^®, Calphalon^®, Rubbermaid^®, Contigo^®, First Alert^®, Waddington and Yankee Candle^®. For hundreds of millions of consumers, Newell Brands makes life better every day, where they live, learn, work and play.

This press release and additional information about Newell Brands are available on the company’s website, https://www.newellbrands.com.

Contacts: Hunter Hackett or Tim Young
L.C. Williams & Associates
P: 312-565-3900 or 800-837-7123
E: [email protected] or [email protected]