In Indiana, 70 people die each year due to home fires, and having a working smoke alarm can cut the risk of death in half. For this reason, volunteers with the American Red Cross of Indiana Southwest Chapter and community members will be installing free smoke alarms and providing home fire safety training from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, May 13, 2023. Volunteers will meet at the Tepe Park Clubhouse at 1212 South Garvin Street in Evansville.
To volunteer for this event, sign up here: https://bit.ly/3NE5KPx
During their visit, Red Cross volunteers along with members of the community will 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
The American Red Cross Home Fire Campaign with the support of community partners has achieved its goal of installing 2.5 million free smoke alarms and making 1 million households safer across the country.
Since launching in October 2014, the campaign has saved at least 1,583 lives nationwide — including 35 people in Indiana — from the threat of home fires, which claim seven lives every day in the U.S. Most often, these tragedies occur in homes without working smoke alarms.
“We are very thankful for community partners like the Evansville Fire Department who know that working smoke alarms save lives,” states Beth Sweeney, Executive Director of the Red Cross Southwest Chapter. “We’re looking forward to working with volunteers and Tepe Park neighbors to make homes safer and help build resilient communities.”
Home fires account for most of the more than 60,000 disasters that the Red Cross responds to annually. Read more stories and see the campaign’s national impact at redcross.org/HomeFireStories.
To access b-roll, click here.
HOW TO PROTECT YOUR FAMILY To help stay safe from home fires, place smoke alarms on each level of your home, including inside and outside bedrooms and sleeping areas. Test alarms monthly and change the batteries at least once a year if your model requires it. Create a home fire escape plan with at least two ways to exit every room in your home. Practice your plan until everyone in your household can get out in less than two minutes.
HOW TO GET INVOLVED Help save lives through the campaign by becoming a volunteer to help families recover from home fires. Learn more at redcross.org/volunteer.
You can also help your family by testing your smoke alarms monthly and practicing your two-minute home fire escape plan. Additional safety tips are available at redcross.org/fire and on the free Red Cross Emergency app (search “American Red Cross” in mobile app stores).
About the American Red Cross Indiana Region:
The American Red Cross of Indiana Region serves 6.9 million people in 104 counties in Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky and Ohio through its six chapters: Central, Northeast, Northwest, Southeast, Southwest, and Greater Indianapolis (Regional Headquarters). 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/Indiana or follow us on Facebook, Twitter @INRedCross and Instagram @indianaredcross.
