FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (July 8, 2019) – The Broward County Chapter of the American Red Cross and its partners installed a free smoke alarm in a woman’s home that saved her life.
On May 11, 2019, the Sunrise Fire-Rescue responded to a home fire in Sunrise, Fla., where the homeowner was able to exit the home, after alerted by her smoke alarm.
Earlier that day, Red Cross and BankUnited volunteers along with the Sunrise-Fire Rescue visited the woman’s home and other Sunrise neighborhoods to install free smoke alarms as part of the Red Cross’ two-week national Sound the Alarm Campaign to end home fires.
Over 40 volunteers went door-to-door to make homes safer and educate families on home fire safety. As a result, more than 160 free smoke alarms were installed in 70 Sunrise homes.
The home fire safety and smoke alarm events are part of a two-week push of Sound the Alarm events in 100 cities with a high risk of home fires—which kill more people in a typical year in the U.S than all other natural disasters combined. Most deaths occur in homes without working smoke alarms.
In 2014, the Red Cross launched the nationwide Home Fire Campaign to reduce home fire deaths and injuries by 25 percent. To date, the campaign has reach more than 1.7 million people and saved 600 lives across the country.
“We are committed to installing life-saving smoke alarms,” said Paula Prendergast, executive director for the chapter. “We are grateful for our partnership with Sunrise Fire-Rescue, the more alarms we can install, and the more lives we can save.”
As part of the campaign, the Red Cross asks every household to talk with their loved ones about fire safety and take two simple steps: Check your smoke alarms monthly and practice your home fire escape plan at least twice a year.
Visit redcross.org/homefires for free fire safety information and resources, including a home fire escape plan to develop and practice with your household. People can also contact their local Red Cross to find out about smoke alarm installation events in their community.
GET INVOLVED The Red Cross depends on the generous support of the American public to fulfill its humanitarian mission. To support our lifesaving work, please consider volunteering or making a donation by visiting redcross.org/southflorida, calling 1-800-RED CROSS or texting REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 gift.
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/southflorida or visit us on Facebook or Twitter at @SFLRedCross.
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