April 27, 2022 — Hope Mills residents in need can sign up for a free smoke alarm installation from American Red Cross Sandhills Chapter, Town of Hope Mills, Hope Mills Fire Department, United Way of Cumberland County, Cape Fear CERT and partners on Saturday, May 21.
“Our goal is to save lives,” said Phil Harris, Executive Director, American Red Cross Sandhills Chapter. “In 2021, there were 139 home fire responses in Cumberland County. That’s why we want to make sure everyone has working smoke alarms, which can cut the risk of dying in a home fire by half.”
Residents who need assistance can visit SoundTheAlarm.org/enc or call 910-536-0618 to schedule an appointment for a free smoke alarm installation during the Red Cross Sound the Alarm event on Saturday, May 21, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. During the 20-minute home visits, Red Cross volunteers and partners will also 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.
“Most people don’t realize they only have about two minutes to escape a home fire — and that smoke alarms need to be replaced every 10 years,” Phil said. “Taking action with this knowledge can be the difference between survival and tragedy.”
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED Event volunteers are needed to install 300 smoke alarms and share fire safety information with families. Register at SoundTheAlarm.org/enc to join this rewarding day of giving back. No prior experience is needed — training will be provided. You can also make a financial donation to the Red Cross to help people prepare for, respond to and recover from home fires.
This Sound the Alarm event is part of a national Red Cross initiative in May to install 50,000 free smoke alarms with partners in more than 50 at-risk communities across the country. Sound the Alarm events are a critical part of the national Red Cross Home Fire Campaign, which has helped save 1,275 lives, including 34 in North Carolina, since launching in October 2014. As part of the campaign in North Carolina, the Eastern North Carolina Region and local partners have installed more than 31,600 free smoke alarms and made more than 13,000 households safer.
This work is made possible thanks to generous financial donations from North Carolina’s statewide presenting Sound the Alarm sponsor Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina and from regional partners: Duke Energy, State Farm, Universal Leaf, Coldwell Banker Advantage, Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Advantage and North State Bank.
About the American Red Cross:
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides comfort to victims of disasters; supplies about 40% of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; distributes international humanitarian aid; and supports veterans, military members and their families. The Red Cross is a nonprofit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to deliver its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or CruzRojaAmericana.org, or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.
