According to the NFPA, 1,000 comfort bears were donated to Clark County Fire Department and Las Vegas Fire & Rescue during the organization’s 128th annual conference and expo.
The handover took place on Tuesday at Fire Station 33 in Clark County.
The bears had been stuffed by attendees over two days at the NFPA Conference & Expo (#NFPAconf25) held at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas.
The NFPA stated that the donation formed part of its outreach and community engagement efforts linked to the event.
The NFPA explained that comfort bears are used by fire departments and emergency services to provide emotional support during crises.
According to the organization, the bears help calm children and older adults who experience distress due to fires or other emergencies.
They are also used to comfort older adults living with Alzheimer’s or dementia during high-stress situations, the NFPA added.
Each bear is intended to be carried by first responders and distributed when required during callouts.
The association stated that similar donations have taken place in other regions during previous events.
NFPA Vice President of Outreach and Advocacy Lorraine Carli delivered remarks at the event where the bears were donated.
Carli said: “We want to thank Clark County Fire Department and Las Vegas Fire & Rescue for hosting us while we’re in Las Vegas this week.
“We appreciate all the work your first responders do throughout the year to help protect their communities from fire and other emergencies.
“This donation is a small gesture of our gratitude.”
The NFPA said the donation allowed attendees to contribute directly to local emergency services while in the host city.
The organization stated that the activity aimed to foster cooperation and community involvement through practical support.
The NFPA confirmed that the comfort bear donation was one of several public-focused activities taking place alongside its main conference sessions.
The 128th annual conference gathered professionals from across the United States for training, product exhibitions, and industry updates.
The bear-stuffing initiative was held on-site at the conference over the course of two days.
The association said that involving attendees in the bear preparation was a way to encourage direct action from industry stakeholders.
The event was designed to strengthen the connection between public safety professionals and the communities they serve, according to the NFPA.
The NFPA has run similar donation initiatives in other regions during past conferences.
The organization noted that its outreach programs focus on providing useful materials to local responders.
Its community engagement activities include donations, educational campaigns, and collaborative projects with fire services.
The NFPA stated that these efforts support broader goals around safety awareness and emergency preparedness.
The comfort bear initiative is one element of this wider approach to supporting fire and emergency services.
The NFPA donated 1,000 comfort bears to Clark County Fire Department and Las Vegas Fire & Rescue.
The bears were handed over on Tuesday at Fire Station 33 in Clark County.
They were stuffed over two days by attendees at the NFPA Conference & Expo in Las Vegas.
The event took place at Mandalay Bay during the NFPA’s 128th annual conference.
Comfort bears are used by first responders to support children and older adults in distress during emergencies.
They are also used to assist older adults living with Alzheimer’s or dementia.
Lorraine Carli, Vice President of Outreach and Advocacy, thanked both fire departments for their hospitality and year-round service.
The NFPA said the initiative was part of its outreach activities linked to the event.
Similar donation efforts have taken place during previous NFPA conferences.
The organization stated that the initiative is part of its broader community engagement and safety awareness programs.
