POMONA, CA, April 23, 2019 — The American Red Cross Los Angeles Region will hold a Sound the Alarm event on April 27^th with the City of Pomona and Pomona Beautification Day as part of a four-week national effort to install 100,000 free smoke alarms. The kick-off for the LA Region starts in Pomona and continues the following Saturdays in Panorama City (May 4), Long Beach (May 11) and East LA (May 18).

WHAT:    Sound the Alarm

WHERE:  Pomona Civic Center

                 505 Garey Ave

                 Pomona, CA 91766

WHEN:    Saturday April 27, 2019. 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.

                 Event Kick-off at 9 a.m.; smoke alarm installations to follow until 4 p.m.

WHO:       Erica Frausto-Aguado, Executive Director of San Gabriel Pomona Valley

                  Cassie M. Trost, Strategic Account Executive

                  Nayeli M. Trejos, Aquatics Program Manager

Home fires kill seven people every day in the U.S. — most often, in homes without working smoke alarms. To prevent needless tragedies, the Red Cross is rallying more than 300 local volunteers for the first event to install free smoke alarms in Pomona. This is part of a national push of Sound the Alarm events in 100 high-risk cities from April 27^th to May 18^th (visit SoundTheAlarm.org/LosAngeles for details).

In addition to the Red Cross initiative, the City of Pomona has selected Sound the Alarm to be featured as a highlighted event for Pomona Beautification Day, a local effort that will bring together city residents, nonprofits, civic organizations, service clubs, faith-based organizations and others in order to build community pride while improving areas around the city.

On that day, Red Cross Los Angeles will also be honoring local Pomona residents with the American Red Cross Certificate of Merit, the organization's highest award for an individual or team of individuals who save or sustain a life using skills obtained from Red Cross training. The honorees helped save the life of a family member during a cardiac emergency.

Sound the Alarm events are part of the Home Fire Campaign, which the Red Cross launched in 2014 to reduce fire deaths and injuries. So far, it has reached more than 1.7 million people and saved more than 500 lives nationwide. In 2018, the Red Cross of Los Angeles:

·  Installed more than 10,400 smoke alarms

·  Reached more than 8,600 youth through preparedness programs

· Made more than 3,350 homes safer through home fire safety visits

People interested in helping can register now at RedCross.org/sta-pomona to volunteer and raise funds for lifesaving services.

About the American Red Cross:

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or cruzrojaamericana.org, or visit us on Twitter at @RedCrossLA or @CruzRojaLA.