Privacy Policy
National Fire Protection Association
Sparky® Website Privacy Policy
Purpose of this Privacy Policy
This privacy policy applies specifically to the Sparky® website, the portion on the National Fire Protection Association website that is of particular interest to children, including children under the age of 13. The Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (the Act) requires that certain notices and information be posted for protection of all children. Among other provisions it requires that we inform parents and legal guardians of how we collect, use and disclose personal information from children less than 13 years of age; and under certain conditions that we obtain the consent of parents and guardians in order for children under 13 years of age to use certain features of our websites. This policy explains how we do that for these children.
This privacy policy is in addition to the standard NFPA Privacy Policy that is available from the remainder of the NFPA web site. This Sparky website privacy policy is a more specific statement of the NFPA’s privacy policy and includes elements required by the Act.
Type of information collected
For almost all of the activities contained within the Sparky website, no personally identifiable information is requested or collected, no such information is required in order for children or any other persons to participate. In some certain instances, specifically the “Crack the Code” game, very limited information is collected solely to allow the NFPA to respond appropriately. In the “Crack the Code” game, we collect the name and address of any person, including any child, who completes the game only for purpose of responding with the prize that the individual has earned for completing the game, including filling out a fire safety checklist and sending that to the NFPA. When the individual submits the filled out fire safety checklist we respond by sending a small prize. The prize is sent by regular mail to the address that is given. Once the prize has been sent, the individual’s name and address are deleted and no record kept.
Use of information collected
The information collected through the Sparky website is used solely to respond, in the fashion mentioned above, to inquiries in the e-mail system and provide prizes for the Crack the Code game. NFPA does not keep or maintain any such information for any other purpose. No information received through the Sparky website is sold, licensed or distributed to any third party or other organization, nor is the information used internally by NFPA for marketing or any other purpose.
Parental consent
Because of the nature all of the information collected as well as its limited use and prompt deletion, parental consent to collect that information is not required by the Act. Nevertheless, should any parent at any time wish to refuse to allow NFPA to collect personal identifying information concerning his or her child, please contact the above-noted website and that request will be honored.
Condition of participation
Providing personally identifiable information by a child is never a condition for playing or being involved in any game or activity contained in the Sparky website. However, e-mail address is necessary in order to provide a response to an e-mail request from a child, and name and address is necessary in order to provide the small giveaway prize in the Sparky game.
®The name and image of Sparky and the title Sparky the Fire Dog, are registered trademarks of the National Fire Protection Association, Quincy, MA 02169.
