LOS ANGELES, March 9, 2023 — Daylight saving time begins this Sunday, March 12, and the American Red Cross Los Angeles Region reminds everyone to TURN your clocks forward one hour and TEST your smoke alarms.
Did you know working smoke alarms can cut the risk of dying in a home fire by half? That’s why it’s critical to “Turn and Test” and take these lifesaving steps to stay safe from home fires — the nation’s most frequent disaster:
“As many as seven people die in this country every day from a home fire, but smoke alarms cut your risk in half,” said Guillermo Sanchez, Preparedness Manager for the Red Cross Los Angeles Region. “Protect your household this weekend. Turn your clocks forward and test your smoke alarms.”
HOME FIRE CAMPAIGN SAVING LIVES The Red Cross responds to more than 60,000 disasters every year and most of them are home fires. To help prevent fire-related deaths and injuries, the Red Cross launched the Home Fire Campaign with community partners in 2014 to reduce fire-related deaths and injuries.
Recently, with support from thousands of community partners, the campaign met its goal of installing 2.5 million free smoke alarms and making 1 million households safer across the country. So far, the Home Fire Campaign is credited with saving more than 1,580 lives in the U.S. Because home fires remain a daily threat and the campaign has made a lifesaving difference, the Red Cross will be continuing the program with community partners as part of its standard services across the country.
JOIN A REWARDING DAY OF GIVING BACK The Red Cross is working to help families stay safe by installing free smoke alarms during its Sound the Alarm home fire safety events in at-risk communities. Volunteers are needed events on March 11 in Lancaster and March 18 in Artesia, along with on April 22 in East LA and April 29 in Inglewood — register and learn more at redcross.org/LAhomefire.
About the American Red Cross:
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides comfort to victims of disasters; supplies about 40% of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; distributes international humanitarian aid; and supports veterans, military members and their families. The Red Cross is a nonprofit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to deliver its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org/la or CruzRojaAmericana.org, or visit us on Twitter at @RedCrossLA.
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