The American Red Cross asks everyone to help Sound the Alarm in Louisiana and be part of the national and statewide Red Cross effort to help reduce the number of deaths and injuries caused by home fires.

Here in Louisiana, the Red Cross of Louisiana is holding Sound the Alarm home fire safety and smoke alarm installation events that will save lives throughout Baton Rouge, the New Orleans metropolitan area and Shreveport starting Saturday, Sept. 23 through Saturday, Oct. 14. Red Cross volunteers and local partners will be canvassing neighborhoods, installing free smoke alarms and helping families create escape plans.

“The Louisiana Red Cross assisted more than 5,200 families and individuals following home fires last year. Home fires are the biggest disaster threat our community faces, killing seven people in this country every day,” said Joshua Joachim, regional chief executive for the Louisiana Red Cross. “Please help us Sound the Alarm by volunteering to install smoke alarms in your community, making a financial contribution, and taking steps to protect your own family from home fires.”

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. The Red Cross wants to reduce these tragedies and save lives, the reason why the organization launched the Home Fire Campaign in 2014.

Across the country, the campaign is making a difference. As of July 1, the Red Cross and our partners across the country have saved 258 lives; reached 858,257 through youth preparedness programs, and installed 886,283 free smoke alarms. Here in Louisiana, 11 lives have been saved as a result of the Home Fire Campaign.

To learn more about how you can participate, visit SoundTheAlarm.org/Louisiana. Below is a list of Sound the Alarm canvassing events you can join in your area:

Baton Rouge

9/23: Area surrounding the 5700 block of Henegan Ave., 3700 block of Sycamore St. and 3700 block of Victoria Dr. – 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.

9/30: Area surrounding the 5222 block of Hollywood St., 4266 block of Mohican-Prescott Crossover, and Old Hammond Hwy at Blvd De Province area – 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.

New Orleans

9/23: Irish Channel (70115/ 70130): 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.

9/30: Harvey (70058): 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.

10/07: Westbank/Algiers (70114): 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.

10/14: Marrero (70072): 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Shreveport

9/30: Pepper Point Park – 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.

10/04: Barksdale Annex – 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.

10/07: Kouns/Buncombe – 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.

10/11: Market Street and MLK – 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.