Every day, seven people die from a home fire. It is the most frequent disaster in the United States. To escape one, people have just two minutes to make their way to safety.
In 2014, the American Red Cross launched a Home Fire Campaign to reduce fire-related deaths and injuries by installing free smoke alarms in homes that need them and teaching families about home fire safety. Having working smoke alarms in your home can cut the risk of dying by 50 percent.
To date, the campaign has helped save at least 1,583 lives by the installation of more than 2.5 million free smoke alarms nationwide. Additionally, more than 1 million households have been made safer across the country.
In Michigan, Red Cross volunteers and employees have made significant contributions to the campaign’s progress.
We are grateful for the support of community partners, donors, local first responders and volunteers who have made this campaign possible and successful. Together, we continue to build on our momentum to save lives and help more families in need.
(Para español, visite ActivaTuAlarma.org)
Join the Red Cross and our community partners as we Sound the Alarm about home fires and how working smoke alarms can protect you and your loved ones and reduce your risk from a home fire. We install free smoke alarms year-round and every spring we engage the community by scheduling smoke alarm install events through our five Red Cross Michigan chapters to raise awareness about fire safety. Here are two ways to help:
Install free smoke alarms in a community near you. No prior experience needed. Training is provided. Register here or call 1-800-RED CROSS.
Make a donation to Red Cross Home Fire Relief.
The Red Cross and its partners can test existing smoke alarms and install up to three free smoke alarms for those that need them.
Install and maintain working smoke alarms in your home. Test them monthly.
Plan and practice 2-minute fire escape drill.
Prepare, respond and help families recover from home fires.