Georgia’s Red Cross Responded to around 2800 Home Fires Last Year,

Volunteers Needed to Install thousands of Free Smoke Alarms for Local Families

Atlanta, Georgia, April 11, 2019 — A new national American Red Cross survey shows that roughly two in five people think it’s more likely that they’ll win the lottery than lose their home in a fire. But the real chance is greater of dying from exposure to fire or smoke (nearly one in 1,500), compared to winning the lottery (typically one in millions).

In Georgia, Red Cross disaster workers, made up of 90% volunteers, responded to around 2800 home fires in 2018 and helped more than 15,500 families get on the road to recovery after a home fire— the nation’s most frequent and deadliest disaster.

“Home fires can happen to anyone, and sadly, these crises can be caused by everyday activities like cooking a meal at home,” said Jennifer Pipa, CEO for Georgia’s Red Cross. “To protect your family, please check your smoke alarms monthly and practice your home fire escape plan together.”

96 PERCENT ENGAGED IN FIRE-RISK ACTIVITIES Almost all people surveyed said they’ve engaged in ordinary activities that are among the leading causes of home fires. For example:

·         More than 70 percent of people said they’ve left the kitchen while cooking on the stove.

·         Nearly three in five adults have walked away from their grill while cooking.

·         Nearly one-third of people left the room or fell asleep while burning candles.

To help stay safe, the Red Cross urges everyone to always supervise cooking equipment and candles, and follow additional safety tips at redcross.org/homefires. For more information about the national survey, see this video and infographic.

JOIN US TO #ENDHOMEFIRES Properly working smoke alarms can cut the risk of dying in a home fire by 50 percent, yet one in 10 adults reported not purchasing an alarm because of the expense. In addition, nearly half of those surveyed said they’ve disconnected an alarm or taken the batteries out of an alarm.

That’s why the Red Cross of Georgia is seeking volunteers for their upcoming Sound the Alarm home fire safety and smoke alarm installation events.  People can register now at SoundTheAlarm.org to help install free smoke alarms, replace batteries in existing alarms and help families create home fire escape plans. There is also information about how to help fundraise to help people impacted by a home fire-related emergency.

Free Smoke Alarm Installation Events in Georgia:

Volunteers Like Tom Wilson are Saving Lives!

On January 10, 2019, Red Cross Disaster Action Team Volunteer Tom Wilson, responded to a home fire emergency in Albany, Georgia.  With smoke still rising from the recently burnt residence, he arrived to find a family of four standing safely, on the outside of their home. As Tom approached the survivors, the Mother stepped forward and said, “Those smoke alarms you installed saved our lives—all four of us!”

As it turns out, Tom had been to the exact home less than two months before, on November 17, 2018. That day, along with the Albany Fire Department, he installed free smoke alarms in the family’s mobile home and helped them make a home fire escape plan. The satisfaction of knowing he’s saving lives is one of the reasons Tom is helping to organize this year’s Sound the Alarm Campaign events in Tifton (April 20) and Albany (May 4).

Sound the Alarm events are part of the Home Fire Campaign, which the Red Cross launched in 2014 to reduce fire-related deaths and injuries. So far, nationwide, it has reached more than 1.7 million people and saved more than 550 lives.

In 2018, volunteers in Georgia and community partners joined together to:

• Install 13,300 free smoke alarms
• Make more than 5,800 households safer by helping to create fire escape plans
• Reach more than 10,000 children through youth preparedness programs

This work is made possible thanks to generous financial donations from regional partners like: UPS, Georgia Power, Northside Hospital, State Farm and Wells Fargo.

ABOUT THE AMERICAN RED CROSS HOME FIRE SAFETY SURVEY The national public opinion survey was conducted for the Red Cross from January 31 to February 3, 2019 using Engine’s Online CARAVAN Omnibus Survey. The study was conducted among a national sample of 1,003 adults, ages 18 or older living in U.S. states. The total sample is balanced to be representative of the U.S. adult population in terms of age, sex, geographic region, race and education. The margin of error for the total sample of 1,003 adults is +/- 3.1 percentage points at the 95 percent confidence level.

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