Red Cross Volunteers and Partners Installed 24,971 Free Smoke Alarms in the Minnesota Region Over Five Years
Minneapolis, Minn. -- National Fire Prevention Week is October 6 to 12, and the Minnesota Region of the American Red Cross urges everyone to practice their home fire escape plan and test their smoke alarms.
“During Fire Prevention Week, prepare your family for home fires before the holidays and cold weather increase the risk of these crises,” says Phil Hansen, CEO of the American Red Cross Minnesota Region.
“Home fires are most often caused by cooking and heating equipment, and we want everyone to stay safe. Please install and test smoke alarms on every level of your home, and practice your escape plan until everyone can get out in two minutes or less.”
Practice Your Plan and Test Your Alarms
For free home fire safety resources, visit soundthealarm.org/mn or download the free Red Cross Emergency App (search “American Red Cross” in app stores).
The Red Cross also encourages people to share this brief video with family and friends to How to Prevent a Home Fire.
• Include at least two ways to get out of each room in your home fire escape plan.
• 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 can meet.
• Practice your escape plan until everyone can get out in two minutes or less.• Install smoke alarms on every level of your home, placing them inside and outside bedrooms, and sleeping areas.
• Test smoke alarms monthly, and change the batteries at least once a year, if your model requires it.
Lifesaving Home Fire Campaign Marks Five Years
Home fires take seven lives each day in the U.S., most often in homes without working smoke alarms. That’s why the Red Cross is working with partners to install free smoke alarms in high-risk communities and help families create escape plans through our Home Fire Campaign — which has saved at least 638 lives across the country since launching in October 2014.
Over the past five years the Minnesota Region and local partners have:
• Installed 24,971 free smoke alarms.
• Reached 16,497 children through youth preparedness programs.
• Made 7,662 households safer from the threat of home fires.
Special thanks to Ames Construction and Paul Davis Restoration for generously sponsoring this year's Sound the Alarm campaign, which installs free smoke alarms and provides home fire safety education throughout the Minnesota Region of the American Red Cross. To request free smoke alarms, call (612) 460-3674, visit getasmokealarm.org or text ALARM to 844-811-0100.
About the American Red Cross
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. The Minnesota Region serves 5.2 million people across Minnesota and part of western Wisconsin with offices in Duluth, Mankato, Minneapolis, Rochester and St. Cloud.
Media Contact
Carrie Carlson-Guest, American Red Cross Regional Communications Officer, Minnesota Region, carrie.carlson-guest@redcross.org
