Fire Prevention Week: Protect your family by practicing home fire escape plan, testing smoke alarms

Home fires claim more lives in a typical year than all natural disasters combined

During Fire Prevention Week (October 5-11), the American Red Cross of Greater Penna., 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.

So far this year alone, local Red Cross Disaster Action Team volunteers have responded to more than 1,500 home fires across Pennsylvania.

“Home fires can occur at any time,” said Jorge Martinez, CEO of the American Red Cross of Greater 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:

· Everyone in your household should know two ways to escape from each room in your home.

· Smoke is dangerous. Get low and go!

· Decide where to meet once you get outside. Select a meeting spot at a safe distance away from your home, such as a neighbor’s home or landmark like a specific tree in your front yard, where everyone knows to meet.

· Get out and stay out. Never go back inside for people, pets or things.

· If a fire starts, you may have less than two minutes to get to safety. Time your fire drill and find out: what’s your escape time?

· While practicing your escape plan, teach children what a smoke alarm sounds like. Talk about fire safety and what to do in an emergency.

Smoke alarm safety:

· Place smoke alarms on each level of your home, including inside and outside bedrooms and sleeping areas.

· In addition to testing your alarms once a month, change the batteries at least once a year, if your model requires it.

· Also check the manufacturer’s date of your smoke alarms. If they’re 10 years or older, they need to be replaced because the sensor becomes less sensitive over time. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions.

FREE SMOKE ALARM INSTALLATIONS Through the Red Cross Home Fire Campaign, our volunteers have worked with local fire departments and other community partners to install more than 3.1 million free smoke alarms across the country. If you need assistance, visit redcross.org/greaterpa for a free smoke alarm installation.

DISASTER VOLUNTEERS NEEDED Local Red Cross Disaster Action Team volunteers provide emotional support, financial assistance and information to help families begin the process of recovery. For emergencies like home fires, our volunteers provide comfort during what can be the worst days of people’s lives. Learn how you can volunteer for our Disaster Action Team at redcross.org/DAT.

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 on the American Red Cross of Greater Pennsylvania, please visit redcross.org/greaterpa and follow us on social media: Facebook, X, Instagram and LinkedIn.