American
Red Cross...
Help
Save Lives with American Red
Cross Fire Safety Tips
Install Smoke Alarms and Create a Fire
Escape Plan
October 11, 2011
Darke
County, OH October 10th, 2011 -
Every 82 seconds a home fire breaks out, according to the National Fire
Protection Agency. Fires can cause irreparable damage to homes and
businesses
displacing families and employees. Last year, the American Red Cross
responded
to 63,000 home fires across the country and provided comfort and basic
necessities to those affected. Five teams of Darke County disaster
volunteers
stand ready and trained to respond to family fires here in our area.
This
October 9-15 the Red Cross is helping families and businesses learn how
to
protect themselves and others from fires in observance of National Fire
Prevention Week.
“Taking
simple steps like installing
smoke detectors and developing and practicing a fire escape plan can
make a
critical difference in saving lives, homes and workplaces,” said Lynne
Gump,
Executive Director, who recommends that every family and business
develop and
practice a fire safety plan. “Everyone at home, school and work should
know
what to do when they hear the sound of a smoke alarm.”
Additional
recommendations include:
•
Install smoke alarms on every level
of the house and inside bedrooms.
•
Replace batteries in smoke alarms at
least once a year. Test each alarm monthly by pushing the test button.
•
Ensure that household members know
two ways to escape from every room and designate a place to meet
outside of
your house in case of a fire. Practice your plan at least twice a year.
Follow
your escape plan in case of
fire. Get out, stay out, and call 9-1-1 or the local emergency number.
Visit
www.redcross.org/homefires for additional fire safety tips
Business,
too, should be prepared.
Fire is the most common of all business disasters. Companies, schools
and other
organizations can learn how to prepare for fires and other emergencies
by
becoming a member of the Red Cross Ready Rating™ Program at
www.readyrating.org. Complete a free, online assessment of your current
readiness level and receive customized feedback with tips to improve
preparedness.
In
addition to helping families and
businesses prepare their homes and facilities for potential fires, the
Red
Cross is there to help those in need when fires break out. The Darke
County
Chapter responded to fifteen home fires last year, bringing blankets,
comfort
kits and the resources to help families start their journey of recovery. “In order to continue
responding to disasters
like fires at homes and businesses here in Darke County, the Red Cross
depends
on the generous support of individuals and businesses in the
community,” added
Gump, “Families can’t wait for us to respond, we have to be prepared
with
volunteers and resources for whatever the next disaster or fire.”
About
the American Red Cross:
No
one can predict where or when the next
large disaster will strike, but preparedness steps taken today can save
lives
and livelihoods tomorrow. People can contact the Darke County Chapter
at
937.548.1002 or visit www.redcross.org to learn what steps they should
take to
be ready when emergencies strike. The American Red Cross shelters,
feeds and
provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies nearly
half of the
nation’s blood; teaches lifesaving skills; provides international
humanitarian
aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is
a
charitable organization — not a government agency — and depends on
volunteers
and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For
more
information, please visit http://www.redcross.org or join our blog
at
http://blog.redcross.org.
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