Backpacker Hostel Fire Campaign

Every year hostel fires unwittingly kill backpackers. As a youth travel industry we have a duty of care to our customers and can certainly save lives with a bit of simple education. You are invited to join the Backpacker Hostel Fire Awareness Week 1st Nov - 7th Nov simply by distributing the enclosed free safety guide to your customers. Globally the industry can reach over 5 million young people. If we can save one life, this annual campaign will be worth it.

- Free Backpacker Hostel Fire Safety Guide Released
- Awareness Week launched

Backpacker Hostel Fire Awareness Week 1st - 7th November

Click here >> to view / download the FREE backpacker Hostel Fire Safety Guide

In memory of those who died in the Childers Hostel Fire, June 2000, and in an aim to prevent further deaths, the global youth travel industry is to hold an annual Fire Safety Awareness Week in the first week of November. During this time, they will promote the issues of hostel fire safety and distribute a new, free, Backpacker Hostel Fire Safety Guide. Those involved include the biggest backpacker online communities and travel agents around the world, who reach over 5 million 18 to 35 year olds annually.

Tom Griffiths, Founder of Gapyear.com, who authored the guide says:

'Every year over 1,000 backpackers are involved in hostel fires around the world. Many are injured and scarred for life. Worst of all, a few die, and some of these are preventable deaths. The worrying thing is that our research has found very few young travellers actually know what to do in a fire and hardly any take it seriously. Most think they can simply jump out of a window, outrun the fire or run through the smoke to safety. Three things which regularly cause death when survival would have been possible. As for backpackers checking routes to fire exits upon arrival? No chance; they’re too cool for that!

Although the guide has been written by myself for Gapyear.com, a white label version is on offer for any company who would like to distribute it to their customers. If you would like to put your brand on it, we are happy for you to do so. We have put a copyright on the content to ensure that those who want to edit it let us know first, as the content has been checked by experts to ensure that it is accurate. We can put you in touch with the experts to ensure that your edits are correct. It is vital that no-one gives the wrong advice. Many companies have agreed to distribute the guide to young travellers around the world and we hope to reach over one million people annually. By having an annual industry awareness week it is a useful reminder to us all to push out our guides and advice to our next batch of customers. We hope that you will join us in this annual campaign to save lives from fire.'

Peter Liney, CEO, STA Travel comments:

'Fire safety is of paramount importance not only to me personally, but also to STA Travel as the world’s leading youth travel brand. It is one of the key reasons why we only promote a limited number of hostels in our recommended hostel network around the world. At STA Travel we have an 18 point checklist for Fire Safety in our hostel contracts and operate site inspections. We have a very strong commitment to ensure we only sell suitable properties. In addition we have been providing our customers with advice on fire safety for years, however, admittedly, it is an issue that is notoriously difficult to get across. Many simply think that it will never happen to them and so ignore the advice on offer. STA Travel will certainly be working with others in the global youth travel arena to raise awareness of hostel fires amongst our customers and we hope to equip as many young travellers with the basic knowledge of how to survive a hostel fire as we can. We fully support anything that educates young people in these matters, saves lives and helps to improve the standards of hostel safety around the world.'

Susan Goldstein, Director of the World Youth Student Travel Conference (WYSTC), says:

'The Childers Hostel Fire brought the issue of fire safety amongst independent travellers to the fore. The issue of fire safety is a vital one and one which all youth and student travel professionals can endorse. Standards have certainly improved over the years in hostels that accommodate backpackers around the world and it’s fair to say that lives have been saved as a result. But the issue remains which is why the annual Backpacker Hostel Fire Safety Awareness Week that starts at the beginning of November is an important initiative which exemplifies the responsible way in which our industry strives for self-regulation. It also demonstrates the importance of bonding together in international organisations like WYSE Travel Confederation and STAY WYSE in order to do so effectively and to remain true to the mission of serving the needs of the independent youth and student traveller."

Duncan Simpson from YHA (England & Wales) - the Youth Hostel Association, comments:

'Last year an electrical fault in a shower block caused a fire that devastated YHA London - Earls Court. The hostel had over 90 guests in the building at the time, predominantly aged between18-24. Everyone was escorted safely from the building and there were no injuries. We are extremely pleased that the strict fire safety procedures and standards enforced by YHA work. All our staff are trained and know what to do in an emergency and the emergency exits are clearly signed and kept clear at all times, which is vital for saving lives in such extreme events. YHA feels that we have a duty of care to our guests and are proud to lead the standards around the world. We will be doing our bit to assist the industry to raise standards. In the meantime, we fully support fire safety awareness campaigns such as this. Equipping backpackers with knowledge on what to do in an emergency will help our staff should the unthinkable happen again, and will save lives where standards are lower or non existent'

Ends

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Contacts

Tom Griffiths, Founder of Gapyear.com
Through Vicky Lee, Communication Manager
Tel: +44 (0)1473 230 766
Email: vlee@gapyear.com