WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (May 16, 2019) — The American Red Cross installed more than 2,100 free smoke alarms in local homes during this month’s national Sound the Alarm home fire safety effort.

“We thank everyone who supported our Sound the Alarm initiative to help neighbors protect themselves against home fires,” said Joanne Nowlin, chief executive officer for the South Florida Region. “Tragically, home fires take seven lives each day in the U.S., but thanks to generous supporters, we’re increasing the odds of survival for families by providing free smoke alarms and teaching them how to stay safe from these everyday crises.”

During Sound the Alarm events throughout the region in April and May, more than 750 Red Cross volunteers and members of Motorola Solutions, BankUnited, Pullman Hotel, American Express and many more, helped make nearly 900 households safer by installing free smoke alarms and helping families create home fire escape plans. These local Sound the Alarm events were part of a national two-week push to install 100,000 free smoke alarms in 100 high-risk communities across the country. Visit SoundtheAlarm.org/SFL for more information.

582 LIVES SAVED FROM HOME FIRES Sound the Alarm events are part of the Home Fire Campaign, which the Red Cross launched in 2014 to reduce deaths and injuries from home fires—the nation’s most frequent disaster. In the last year, the Red Cross has helped more than 3,400 people recover from nearly 1,000 home fire responses throughout the South Florida Region.

So far, the campaign has reached more than 1.8 million people and saved at least 582 lives nationwide. Since 2014 in the South Florida Region, the Red Cross and local partners have:

• Installed nearly 29,000 free smoke alarms
• Made more than 14,000 households safer from the threat of home fires
• Reached more than 20,000 children through youth preparedness programs

This work is made possible thanks to generous financial donations from regional partners: Motorola Solutions Foundation, Hard Rock Heals Foundation, Florida Power & Light and the Helmerich Trust.

CLICK HERE to view recap photos and b-roll.

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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