Even the best of PIOs-Public Information Officers go through a dry spell and struggle for something newsworthy to promote once in a while. Some call it writer's block. Others call it a brain cramp.

It only takes a little imagination (or inspiration) to get put of this slump, even when you don't think you have anything that's of relevance to your target audience: the public.

I half-jokingly say that if someone goes to the bathroom in our firehouse - we write a press release about it.

I get inspired (Reads: Steal Ideas) by reading other PIOs' press releases.

Here's one example of twisting what some might consider nothing - into something.

Is your fire department participating in Fire/EMS Safety, Health and Survival Week (June 24-28) - the event formerly known as the National Firefighter Stand-down?

Here's a link to the IAFC web site outlining the focus and some suggested plans for the week: http://www.iafc.org/displaycommon.cfm?an=1&subarticlenbr=306

Heed their advice. Take advantage of this great opportunity to make your firefighters and first responders safer. Then make hay while the sun shines and promote the fact that you're doing something to make sure your firefighters go home to their families after every run.

Now, here's a press release I crafted for last year's stand-down. Press Release-Stand Down.pdf

While you might not initially think that such activities are pertinent to the public, writing about your efforts to make yourselves safer gives the community a real (as in: not false) sense of security, that you're in turn making them safer. Trust me. They like that feeling.

That can win you some brownie points with your community and, for those of you keeping score at home, we need all the points we can get these days.

Get your agency involved in National Fire/EMS Safety Week. Write or otherwise brag about it.

Let me know how it turns out.

Discuss "Making Something Out of Nothing" in the PIO group I set up.

PS - You'll notice that all of our press releases end with a consistent recruitment message. It's the punch line to the fact that joining the volunteer fire service is no joke and it could be right for them.