The American Red Cross of Chicago & Northern Illinois is seeking people to volunteer their time and help save lives at the Sound the Alarm home fire safety and smoke alarm installation events. Two thousand alarms will be installed across the region by volunteers over the course of three weeks. It is part of a national goal to help save lives and lessen the number of tragedies attributed to home fires and more volunteers are needed!
The Chicago skyline will be lit up in red and white from April 26- May 3 in celebration of the Sound the Alarm initiative to help save lives. Buildings participating include Blue Cross Blue Shield, Prudential Plaza, the Wrigley Building clock tower, the State Street Lightscapes and more.
“Help us Sound the Alarm and be part of the nationwide Red Cross effort to help reduce the number of deaths and injuries from home fires,” said Celena Roldán, Chief Executive Officer of the American Red Cross of Chicago & Northern Illinois. “By volunteering with the Red Cross, someone can truly make a difference in someone’s life. Please join us and help Sound the Alarm by volunteering during one of our many installation events.”
The Chicago Red Cross is partnering with local fire departments and community partners to install these lifesaving smoke alarms in high-risk neighborhoods. If you are interested in volunteering to educate people about home fire safety and install free smoke alarms, visit the Sound the Alarm information on www.soundthealarm.org/chicago. To sign up to receive a free smoke alarm, visit getasmokealarm.org.
The Red Cross responds to nearly 64,000 disasters a year, the majority of which are home fires. Working smoke alarms in a home cut the risk of death by half, and having an escape plan further improves the odds of survival. Since starting the home fire campaign in 2014, over 552 lives have been saved by smoke alarms installed by the Red Cross and its partners.
Click here to see smoke alarm installation b-roll.
Watch this video to see more about “Sound the Alarm.”
Sound the Alarm smoke alarm installation events are scheduled for the following dates:
· Saturday, April 27, Austin, Columbus Park District – Field House, 500 S. Central Ave, 9:30a – 5:00p
· Saturday, April 27, Freeport, Martin Luther King Community Center, 9:00a – 3:00p
· Saturday, May 11, Bolingbrook, Bolingbrook High School 365 Raider Way, 8:00a - 5:00p.
· Saturday, May 11, Rockford, Ken Rock Community Center, 3218 11th Street, 9:00a-3:00p
· Saturday, May 18, North Lawndale, Douglas Park District - Cultural Center/Field House, 1401 S. Sacramento Dr, 9:30am - 5pm.
· Saturday, May 18, Joliet, University of St. Francis St Clare Campus 1550 Plainfield Rd, 8:00a – 5:00p
This work is made possible thanks to generous financial donations from regional corporate partners: Motorola Solutions Foundation, Gallagher, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois, Grainger, Bank of America, Joan and Paul Rubschlager and USG Corporation.
About the American Red Cross of Chicago & Northern Illinois:
The American Red Cross of Chicago & Northern Illinois serves 9.5 million people in 21 counties including Boone, Bureau, Carroll, Cook, DeKalb, DuPage, Grundy, Kane, Kankakee, Kendall, Jo Daviess, LaSalle, Lake, Lee, McHenry, Ogle, Putnam, Stephenson, Whiteside, Will and Winnebago. 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 us at redcross.org/il/chicago or visit us on Twitter @ChicagoRedCross.
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