The American Red Cross has announced a new campaign to reduce deaths and injuries from home fires by as much as 25 percent over the next five years.
Seven times a day, someone in the United States dies in a fire, according to the Red Cross.
The Red Cross is asking every household in America to take two simple steps that can save lives: Check existing smoke alarms and practice a fire escape plan.
“Smoke alarms can cut the risk of death from a fire in half, so we’re joining with fire departments and groups from communities in our region to install smoke alarms and teach fire safety,” said Mathieu Nelessen, regional CEO of the American Red Cross North Jersey Region. There are several things that families and individuals can do to increase their chances of surviving a fire, according to the Red Cross:
At a minimum, put one smoke detector on every level of the home, inside bedrooms and outside sleeping areas. Local building codes vary, and there may be additional requirements where someone lives.
Test all smoke alarms. If they don’t work, replace them.
Make sure everyone in the family knows how to get out of every room and out of the home in less than two minutes. Practice that plan. Fire experts say that people may have as little as two minutes to escape a burning home before it’s too late to get out.
The Red Cross responds to nearly 70,000 disasters each year in the United States, and the vast majority of those are home fires.
Throughout New Jersey, the Red Cross responded to 1,063 home fires last year, offering comfort to 1,680 families and meeting immediate needs such as shelter, food and clothing, referrals and mental health services as needed.
For more information, visit www.redcross.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS. Text “REDCROSS” to 90999 to make a $10 donation.