Home fires claim seven lives every day in the U.S. – but having working smoke alarms can cut the risk of death by half.
During Fire Prevention Week (October 6-12), the American Red Cross Southeastern Pennsylvania Region reminds everyone home fires claim more lives in a typical year than all natural disasters combined. 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.
“Fire now travels faster through homes, largely due to popular open-concept layouts and synthetic materials,” said Jennifer Graham, Regional CEO for the American Red Cross of 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:
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.
Visit redcross.org/fire for more information, including a home fire escape plan to create and practice with your household. You can also download our free Emergency app (search “American Red Cross” in app stores).
SOUND THE ALARM The American Red Cross Southeastern Pennsylvania Region installs lifesaving smoke alarms free of charge.
GET FREE SMOKE ALARM INSTALLATIONS: If you need smoke alarms installed in your home, visit soundthealarm.org/philly or call 215-299-4029 to schedule an appointment. In the city of Philadelphia, you can also call 3-1-1.
VOLUNTEER: Become a Red Cross volunteer and help keep people safe from home fires. Visit redcross.org/volunteer.
DONATE: Thanks to donations, our services are free and available for all those in need. Help families prepare for, respond to and recover from home fires by giving at SoundTheAlarm.org or texting the word HOMEFIRE to 90999 to make a $10 donation.
HOME FIRE CAMPAIGN SAVE LIVES Since October 2014, the Red Cross Home Fire Campaign, working with community partners, has saved at least 2,169 lives by educating families about fire safety, helping them create escape plans and installing free smoke alarms in high-risk areas across the country. 27 of those lives have been saved right here in Southeastern Pennsylvania. 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 visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.
