Home Fire Campaign: Red Cross, Partners Save 332 Lives

The American Red Cross’ nationwide Home Fire Campaign is now credited with saving at least 332 lives, with five lives recently saved in Tennessee.

At 5:30 a.m. on February 10, 2017, a smoke alarm sounded in Memphis, which alerted a 44-year old grandmother to a home fire. She quickly got her two children and two grandchildren out of the house, ranging in age from 19 years old to 10 years old. The grandmother stated that “having talked about fire safety and how to get out of the house helped the family to know what to do and quickly get out.” Smoke alarms were installed, and a home fire safety checklist was reviewed during an in-home visit that was completed on January 14, 2017, in collaboration with the Tennessee State Fire Marshal and Boy Scouts of America.

Launched in 2014, the Home Fire Campaign is also responsible for more than 1,103,022 smoke alarms being installed in more than 12,175 cities and towns across the United States by Red Cross volunteers, firefighters and other community partners. And more than 989,608 children have learned to be safer in emergencies.

TWO MINUTES TO ESCAPE 

It is estimated that someone may have only two minutes to get out after a fire starts in their home. As part of the campaign, the Red Cross is also asking every household in America to take two simple steps that can save lives: practice fire drills at home and check their existing smoke alarms. Every family should develop a fire escape plan, and practice it.

GET INVOLVED 
People can visit redcross.org to find out more about how to protect themselves and their loved homes from fire or contact their local Red Cross to find out about smoke alarm installation events in their community. They can also help by volunteering their time or making a donation today to Red Cross Disaster Relief by visiting redcross.org, calling 1-800-RED CROSS or texting the word REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation. Donations to Disaster Relief will be used to prepare for, respond to and help people recover from disasters big and small.