On Saturday, Feb. 4 the American Red Cross and Winter Haven Fire Department are teaming up to install free smoke alarms for local families vulnerable to home fires during a Sound the Alarm event in Winter Haven, FL.
TAMPA, Fla. – January 20, 2023 – In January and February, the American Red Cross and community partners are teaming up again to install free smoke alarms for local families vulnerable to home fires during Sound the Alarm events across Central Florida. This effort is part of the national Red Cross Home Fire Program, which has helped save 1,505 lives across the country through these outreach and education efforts.
“We’re excited to continue to build on this program which has saved at least 14 lives in Central Florida,” said Eric Corliss, Regional CEO of the American Red Cross of Central Florida and the U.S. Virgin Islands. “Home fires are ‘everyday’ tragedies that are a constant threat to our community, but together we can make a difference.”
The Red Cross has six events scheduled across Central Florida in the coming weeks:
Date |
Location |
Partners |
01/21 |
Orlando (Deerwood) |
Orange County Fire Department |
01/28 |
South Daytona (Lakeview) |
South Daytona Fire Department |
01/28 |
Treasure Island |
Treasure Island Fire Department |
02/04 |
Winter Haven (Cypress Shores, Colony Club) |
City of Winter Haven |
02/04 |
South Bradenton (Heather Hills) |
West Manatee Fire Department |
02/11 |
Kissimmee (Buenaventura Lakes) |
Osceola County Fire Rescue |
MAKING A DIFFERENCE Home fire safety events are an important part of the national Red Cross Home Fire Campaign launched in October 2014 to reduce home fire-related deaths and injuries. Through December 2022, this program has installed more than 2.4 million free smoke alarms nationwide and made 1 million families safer.
COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS WELCOME Volunteers are needed to help install free smoke alarms, provide education on home fire safety and document installations. All training and supplies are provided the day of the event. Sign up for an event at redcross.org/centralflorida and search by zip code.
WITH APPRECIATION This work is made possible thanks to generous financial donations to the Home Fire Program from regional partners: WellsFargo, Walmart, Lockheed Martin and Oracle.
The American Red Cross of Central Florida and the U.S. Virgin Islands serves 19 Florida counties through five chapters: Florida’s Space Coast (Daytona Beach), Greater Orlando, Mid-Florida (Winter Haven), Southwest Florida (Sarasota) and Tampa Bay; and the Virgin Islands territories of St. Thomas, St. Croix, St. John and Water Island. For more information, visit redcross.org. Also find us on Facebook and Twitter.
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 @RedCross.
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