Fire Prevention Week: Red Cross Says Practice Escape Plans, Test Smoke Alarms

April 28, 2018.
Binghamton, New York.
Smoke Alarm Installations, Sound the Alarm Campaign.
Pictured: Creating a Home Fire Escape Plan

An American Red Cross volunteer helps homeowners and renters create a Home Fire Escape Plan as part of a national fire safety promotion called "Sound the Alarm." In an effort to reduce fatalities from home fires, teams of Red Cross volunteers go door-to-door across the country to install free smoke alarms, replace batteries in existing alarms, help families create escape plans and provide life-saving information about preventing and surviving home fires.

Photo by Chuck Haupt for the American Red Cross.

September 30, 2019

Red Cross Home Fire Campaign Has Saved At Least 642 Lives, Installed Nearly 2 Million Free Smoke Alarms in Five Years

WASHINGTON, D.C., OCTOBER 1, 2019 — National Fire Prevention Week is October 6 to 12, and the American Red Cross urges everyone to practice their home fire escape plan and test their smoke alarms.

“As cold weather increases the risk of home fires, please prepare your family now during Fire Prevention Week,” said Trevor Riggen, senior vice president, Red Cross Disaster Cycle Services. “Install and test smoke alarms on every level of your home, and practice your escape plan until everyone can get out in two minutes or less.”

PRACTICE YOUR PLAN, TEST YOUR SMOKE ALARMS For free home fire safety resources, visit redcross.org/homefires or download the free Red Cross Emergency App (search “American Red Cross” in app stores).

Include at least two ways to get out of each room in your home fire escape plan.
Select a meeting spot at a safe distance away from your home, such as your neighbor’s home or landmark like a specific tree in your front yard, where everyone can meet.
Practice your escape plan until everyone can get out in two minutes or less.
Install smoke alarms on every level of your home, placing them inside and outside bedrooms, and sleeping areas.
Test smoke alarms monthly, and change the batteries at least once a year, if your model requires it.

LIFESAVING HOME FIRE CAMPAIGN MARKS FIVE YEARS Home fires take seven lives each day in the U.S., most often in homes without working smoke alarms. That’s why the Red Cross is working with partners to install free smoke alarms in high-risk communities and help families create escape plans through its Home Fire Campaign, which launched five years ago in October 2014.

Over the past five years, the campaign has saved at least 642 lives across the country by:

Installing nearly 2 million free smoke alarms.
Reaching more than 1.4 million children through youth preparedness programs.
Making more than 793,000 households safer from the threat of home fires.

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 follow us on social media.