Daylight saving time begins this Sunday, March 9 and the American Red Cross asks everyone to TURN their clocks forward one hour and TEST their smoke alarms.

Over the past week, local Red Cross volunteers responded to help 18 people, in Ladd, Avon, Douds and Moline affected by 4 home fires, which account for most of the more than 60,000 disasters that the Red Cross responds to annually across the country. Red Cross volunteers provided items to meet immediate needs after a fire and additional support in the form of shelter, health and mental health services and one-on-one support.

Did you know working smoke alarms can cut the risk of dying in a home fire by half? That’s why it’s critical to “Turn and Test” and take these lifesaving steps to stay safe from home fires — the nation’s most frequent disaster:

• Install smoke alarms on every level of your home, including inside and outside bedrooms and sleeping areas. Test alarms monthly and replace the batteries at least once a year if your model requires it.

• Replace smoke alarms that are 10 years or older. That’s because the sensor becomes less sensitive over time. Check the date of your smoke alarms and follow the manufacturer’s instructions.

• Practice your two-minute escape plan. Make sure everyone in your household can get out in less than two minutes — the amount of time you may have to get out of a burning home before it’s too late. Include at least two ways to get out from every room and select a meeting spot at a safe distance away from your home, such as your neighbor’s home or landmark like a specific tree in your front yard, where everyone knows where to meet.

• Teach children what a smoke alarm sounds like. Talk about fire safety and what to do in an emergency.

Visit redcross.org/fire for more information. You can also download our free Emergency app by searching “American Red Cross” in app stores.

Our volunteers are at the heart of our mission and represent 90% of the Red Cross workforce. Visit redcross.org/volunteertoday to sign up for opportunities with the Red Cross. Your time and talent can make a real difference in people's lives.

HOME FIRE CAMPAIGN SAVING LIVES The Red Cross responds to about 65,000 disasters every year and most of them are home fires. To help prevent fire-related deaths and injuries, the Red Cross launched the Home Fire Campaign in 2014 to reduce fire-related deaths and injuries.

Sound the Alarm events are part of the Home Fire Campaign. Across the country, local volunteers and community partners meet with families to install free smoke alarms, help them create a two-minute fire escape plan and share safety information on home fires and other local disaster risks.

This year, volunteers are needed to install 1,400 smoke alarms during the month of March as part of the national Red Cross initiative to install 50,000 free smoke alarms with community and fire department partners in at-risk communities across the country.
To view the list of Sound the Alarm events and to register to volunteer, visit SoundTheAlarm.org. No prior experience needed — training will be provided.

About the American Red Cross:
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides comfort to victims of disasters; supplies about 40% of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; distributes international humanitarian aid; and supports veterans, military members and their families. The Red Cross is a nonprofit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to deliver its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or CruzRojaAmericana.org, or follow us on social media.