By Dale Kunce, CEO American Red Cross National Capital & Greater Chesapeake Region

Smoke alarms save lives—it's really that simple. In fact, having properly working smoke alarms can reduce the risk of home fire-related deaths and injuries by 50 percent. Knowing this and knowing that our National Capital & Greater Chesapeake Red Cross team has installed around 2,300 free smoke alarms in area homes since January 2023 absolutely fills me up with joy. But as I watched our staff members and volunteers team up with community partners for Sound the Alarm events in eight DMV area communities over the past several weeks, I saw something even more incredible. I witnessed our team members sharing the joy of helping others with their own family members. And this inspired me to do more of the same!

On May 6th, my 11-year-old son Owen and I joined dozens of Red Crossers, Seat Pleasant Police Officers and Prince George's County Fire Department personnel to install free smoke alarms in Seat Pleasant, Maryland. Owen helped with getting each installation team stocked-up with supplies like drills and ladders; and he carried our group's ladder as we made home after home safer throughout the day.

Along the way we met Marta Escobar – whose household received two free smoke alarms. And Marta’s Sound the Alarm experience was all about family too, because she shares her home with her daughter, her son-in-law and her two grandchildren, Mason and Marlon.

“If it makes my family safer, then it is a good thing. It is a very good thing to have these new alarms,” Marta said after she thanked Owen and I in Spanish.

We also met Charles Bondheim Jr., a veteran of the U.S. Military who received one free smoke alarm on the main level of his home. And we found out that Charles is no stranger to the Red Cross.

“The Red Cross helped me when I was deployed overseas with the U.S. Marines,” Charles said. “My dad had passed away and the team from the Red Cross made sure I could get home. This is the second time I’ve been helped by the Red Cross and it brings it all back in a good way. I appreciate these free smoke alarms.”

And we met Charron Toliver, a regional volunteer of ten years who helps out our National Capital & Greater Chesapeake team in several areas of mission delivery—from supporting her daughter’s Red Cross youth club, to serving the U.S. military community and their families at Ft. Belvoir, to installing free smoke alarms alongside community partners and fellow volutneers.

“This is my second time installing these free smoke alarms,” Charron said. “I enjoy the interaction with people and sitting down with families and educating on the home fire escape plan—that is my favorite part!”

When our Sound the Alarm day began to wind down and it came time to head back to our own home, Owen wanted to stay, stating, "I think we should keep going Dad. I think we should do this every day."

Bottom line: It feels good to help!

Perhaps not all Red Cross events and activities are suitable for bringing along your family—but think of who you CAN bring along with you. Think of who you can engage in our lifesaving mission. And then take action to include them in our Red Cross work, too!