The American Red Cross Greater New York Region recently joined forces with National Grid to install 129 smoke alarms and teach 42 families about home fire safety during a fire safety and smoke alarm installation event on Wednesday, January 24, 2018, across neighborhoods in Queens, New York.

“The day was a big success and an important step in helping educate residents about how to be safe if a fire should occur in their home,” said Neela Lockel, CEO of the American Red Cross on Long Island. “We are grateful to our partners at National Grid for their support of our efforts to end home fires and secure our neighbors.”

“National Grid is proud partner in supporting the Red Cross in fire and carbon monoxide safety,” said Jim Flannery, V.P. of Power Generation at National Grid and American Red Cross on Long Island Board member. “Residents are encouraged to install CO detectors as well as smoke detectors in their homes and to test detectors that may already be installed to ensure that they are in working order. If you smell gas act fast, get out of the house, do not use the telephone or light switches for any reason. After leaving the house and reaching a safe environment, call 911 or National Grid. Do not return to your home until National Grid tells you it is safe. These actions can save lives.”

Red Cross volunteers together with National Grid employee volunteers canvassed neighborhoods across Queens starting in Far Rockaway, and then visiting nearby communities including Arverne, Richmond Hills, Rochdale, and Jamaica among others, installing free smoke alarms and helping families create escape plans. Since 2015, the Red Cross has installed over 13,000 smoke alarms in Queens through its partnership with the New York City Fire Department (FDNY) and the FDNY Foundation. This is the second-time employees of National Grid volunteer to install smoke detectors with the Red Cross.

The Red Cross responds to nearly 64,000 disasters a year across the country, 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 end these tragedies and save lives, and launched the Home Fire Campaign, Sound the Alarm. Save a Life., in 2014 to help achieve these goals.

Across the country, the Campaign is making a difference. As of December 31, 2017, the Red Cross and our partners across the country have saved at least 303 lives and installed over 1 million free smoke alarms.

To learn more about the Home Fire Campaign, visit redcross.org/NYCFireSafety.

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. For more information, please visit redcross.org/GNY or visit us on Twitter at @RedCrossNY.

About National Grid:

National Grid (LSE: NG; NYSE: NGG) is an electricity, natural gas, and clean energy delivery company that supplies the energy for more than 20 million people through its networks in New York, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island. It is the largest distributor of natural gas in the Northeast. National Grid also operates systems that deliver gas and electricity across Great Britain.

National Grid is transforming its electricity and natural gas networks to support the 21st century digital economy with smarter, cleaner, and more resilient energy solutions. Read more about the innovative projects happening across our footprint in The Democratization of Energy, an eBook written by National Grid’s US president, Dean Seavers.

For more information please visit our website: www.nationalgridus.com. You can also follow us on Twitter, watch us on YouTube, friend us on Facebook and find our photos on Instagram.