Media contact: Keith Paul
Regional Communications Director
keith.paul@redcross.org | 702-400-7680
MOAB, Utah (March 9, 2022) — American Red Cross of Utah staff and volunteers will be in Moab this weekend installing free smoke detectors and providing home fire preparedness information to help prevent devastating home fires. The Red Cross will also be seeking local volunteers to join its Disaster Action Team serving Moab and surrounding communities.
“Our Red Cross volunteers support their communities to help avert disasters, such as home fires, by checking existing smoke alarms and installing new ones when needed,” said Heidi Ruster, Chief Executive Officer of the American Red Cross Utah/Nevada Region. “Our goal is to save lives. That’s why we want to make sure everyone has working smoke alarms, which can cut the risk of dying in a home fire by half.”
Red Cross staff and volunteers will be out in teams of three in Moab on Saturday installing free smoke alarms for residents who have signed up. Teams will also go door-to-door offering preparedness and home fire prevention education, plus free smoke alarms. The teams will go out again on Tuesday, March 15.
Appointments for smoke alarm installation are still available on both days
To schedule a time for our team to visit your home and install alarms, Contact Sara Paice, Disaster Program Specialist: 435-265-6324, or sara.paice@redcross.org.
“If disaster strikes, our Disaster Action Team volunteers help families with their immediate needs after a home fire and offer support during a very difficult time,” Ruster said. “Our volunteers and staff are trained to help support their communities and neighbors in times of crisis. Please join us by volunteering to help as a Red Cross volunteer and ensure no one in Moab or the rest of Grand County faces life’s emergencies alone.”
The Red Cross provides specialized training for Disaster Action Team Volunteers. After the initial training, volunteers can take shifts that may include responding to emergencies within two hours, night or day, rain or shine, either on the scene or coordinating remotely to provide immediate support. With experience and further training, volunteers can take on leadership and response coordination roles to have a wider impact and be eligible for deployment to large scale emergencies/disasters in Utah and other parts of the country.
To learn more about volunteering for the Disaster Action Team in Moab and surrounding communities, contact Julie Schwartz, Volunteer Recruitment Specialist: 385-258-5310, or julie.schwartz@redcross.org, or visit redcross.org/volunteer/disaster-action-team.html.
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.