The American Red Cross Southeastern Pennsylvania Region is leading Sound the Alarm smoke alarm installation and home fire safety events this spring with community partners, as part of a national Red Cross initiative in May and early June to install 50,000 free smoke alarms with partners in more than 50 at-risk communities across the country.
Red Cross volunteers, local firefighters and area businesses are teaming up to help install hundreds of free smoke alarms for local families in Southeastern Pennsylvania. Already this year, the Red Cross has responded to more than 250 home fires, leaving more than 1,000 people displaced in Philadelphia, Bucks, Chester, Delaware and Montgomery counties.
“Sound the Alarm is meaningful way to be a part of a larger movement while directly helping local families,” said Guy Triano, Regional CEO for the American Red Cross of Southeastern Pennsylvania. “In just one day, you could help save a neighbor’s life by installing smoke alarms — which can cut the risk of dying in a home fire by half.”
People can register now at redcross.org/philly to install free smoke alarms and share fire safety information with residents during local Sound the Alarm events. The first will be held Friday, May 6 starting at Wissinoming Park in Philadelphia. The second will be held in Upper Darby, Delaware County on Saturday, May 14, with a third occurring in Bridgeport, Montgomery County on May 21. A fourth event will be held in Southampton Township, Bucks County on June 4.
No prior experience is needed. Training will be provided at each event before volunteer teams, with members of the Red Cross and community partners visit area homes. Because of generous donations, all services are free and available for people in need. Can’t join the event? Help by donating to the Red Cross at SoundTheAlarm.org to help people prepare for, respond to and recover from home fires — which account for most of the U.S. disasters that the Red Cross responds to every eight minutes.
IF YOU NEED A SMOKE ALARM
Residents in Southeastern Pennsylvania who need assistance can call 215-299-4029 to schedule an appointment for a free smoke alarm installation by the Red Cross. You can also register online at redcross.org/philly. During home visits, Red Cross volunteers and local firefighters 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.
1,275 LIVES SAVED AND COUNTING
This Sound the Alarm event is a critical part of the national Red Cross Home Fire Campaign, which has helped save at least 1,275 lives since launching in October 2014. As part of the campaign in Southeastern Pennsylvania, the Red Cross and local partners have installed more than 17,400 free smoke alarms.
This work is made possible thanks to generous financial donations from regional partners including Wawa and The Wawa Foundation, State Farm and PECO.
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.