During Fire Prevention Week (October 5-11), the American Red Cross Southeastern Pennsylvania Region reminds everyone of the dangers of home fires, which claim seven lives every day in the U.S. To help protect your household, test your smoke alarms each month and practice your escape plan until everyone can get out in less than two minutes.
“Home fires can occur any time, any place,” said Jennifer Graham, CEO, Red Cross Southeastern Pennsylvania. “The sooner an alarm alerts you to a fire, the sooner you can get out. This is critical because fire experts say you may have less than two minutes to escape a burning home before it’s too late.”
Tips for creating your home fire escape plan and practicing your 2-minute drill:
Smoke alarm safety:
Local Red Cross Disaster Action Team volunteers provide emotional support, financial assistance and information to help families begin the process of recovery. Most of the 65,000 emergencies that the Red Cross responds to each year are home fires. So far this year alone, local Red Cross Disaster Action Teams have responded to more than 450 home fires and helped more than 2,000 people in Philadelphia, Bucks, Chester, Delaware and Montgomery counties.
SOUND THE ALARM
The American Red Cross Southeastern Pennsylvania Region installs lifesaving smoke alarms free of charge.
HOME FIRE CAMPAIGN SAVE LIVES
Since October 2014, the Red Cross Home Fire Campaign, working with community partners, has saved at least 2,479 lives, including 28 in Southeastern Pennsylvania, by educating families about fire safety, helping them create escape plans and installing free smoke alarms in high-risk areas across the country. To learn more about the campaign and how you can get involved, visit redcross.org/homefires.
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 join us on social media.
Support all the urgent humanitarian needs of the American Red Cross.
Find a drive and schedule a blood donation appointment today.
Your time and talent can make a real difference in people’s lives. Discover the role that's right for you and join us today!