Media Contact: Dana Simmons
dana.simmons@redcross.org
IMPERIAL COUNTY, November 2, 2023 — The American Red Cross of San Diego and Imperial Counties is offering free smoke alarm installations for Imperial County residents in need through home fire safety visits.
“A working smoke alarm can be the difference between survival and tragedy when a home fire strikes,” said Melissa Altman, Regional Preparedness Manager for the American Red Cross Southern California Region. “That’s why the Red Cross is helping ensure Imperial County residents have these lifesaving devices.”
Residents who need assistance can register at SoundTheAlarm.org/SoCal for a 20-minute home fire safety visit in English or Spanish. During this visit, Red Cross volunteers will install free smoke alarms in the home and share information on the causes of home fires, how to prevent them, what to do if a fire starts and how to create an escape plan.
SMOKE ALARM INSTALLATIONS PART OF NATIONAL CAMPAIGN Local smoke alarm installations are a critical part of the national Red Cross Home Fire Campaign, which has helped save at least 1,969 lives since launching in October 2014. During this time, the Red Cross and local partners have installed more than 6,800 free smoke alarms and made 1,977 households safer in Imperial Counties.
SMOKE ALARMS SAFETY TIPS Daylight saving time ends on November 5. When turning your clocks back, test your smoke alarms and replace the batteries if needed. Visit redcross.org/fire for more information, including an escape plan to create and practice with your family, or download the free Red Cross Emergency app by searching “American Red Cross” in app stores.
• Install smoke alarms on every level of your home, including inside and outside bedrooms and sleeping areas.
• Replace smoke alarms that are 10 years or older. Components such as sensors can become less sensitive over time. Follow your alarm’s manufacturer instructions.
• Practice your two-minute home fire escape plan. Make sure everyone in your household can get out in less than two minutes — the amount of time you may have to escape a burning home before it’s too late.
• Include at least two ways to get out of every room and select a meeting spot at a safe distance away from your home, such as your neighbor’s home or landmark like a specific tree in your front yard, where everyone can meet.
About the American Red Cross Southern California Region
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 public to perform its mission. The Red Cross Southern California Region proudly serves San Diego, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino and Imperial Counties. In addition to carrying out disaster preparedness and response programs, blood collection, health and safety training, international services programs and supporting the military community, the Southern California Region provides nutritional counseling through its Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program in San Diego and helps communities prepare for, respond to and recover from disasters through its Prepare SoCal and Prepare San Diego initiatives. For more information, please visit redcross.org/SoCal or cruzrojaamericana.org, or connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
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