Red Cross volunteers and local partners will join on Saturday, March 15 to install free smoke alarms for local families vulnerable to home fires during a Sound the Alarm event in Chicago near Midway Airport.

This effort is part of a national Red Cross Sound the Alarm initiative to install 50,000 free smoke alarms in at-risk communities across the country. Having a working smoke alarm cuts the risk of dying in a home fire in half. To date, our home fire campaign has helped save 2,266 lives nationally. Of those lives saved, 45 were in Illinois.

 “A working smoke alarm can be the difference between survival and tragedy when a home fire strikes,” said Rodrigo Carillo, Regional Disaster Officer for the Red Cross of Illinois. “That’s why the Red Cross is teaming up with New Life Community Church Midway to help ensure residents in the , especially those most vulnerable, have these lifesaving devices.”

IF YOU NEED A SMOKE ALARM

Residents of 60632 (Southwest Side, Chicago) who need assistance can visit SoundTheAlarm.org or call 1-800-Red Cross to schedule an appointment for a free smoke alarm installation during this Red Cross Sound the Alarm event on March 15. During the 20-minute home visits, Red Cross volunteers will also share information on the causes of home fires, how to prevent them, what to do if a fire starts and how to create an escape plan.

BECOME A VOLUNTEER

Your time and talent can help people prepare for, respond to, and recover from home fires — which account for most of the U.S. disasters that the Red Cross responds to every eight minutes. Please visit redcross.org/volunteer to sign up as a Red Cross disaster volunteer.

The Red Cross Sound the Alarm campaign is made possible thanks to generous financial donations from corporate partners: State Farm, Motorola Solutions Foundation, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois, Peoples Gas Community Fund, Harrah’s Joliet Casino & Hotel, USG, and CITGO Lemont Refinery.

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.