The American Red Cross and its partners have saved at least 102 lives as part of its nationwideHome Fire Campaign to reduce the number of home fire deaths and injuries.
Since October of 2014, the Red Cross has worked with fire departments and community groups across the country as part of a multi-year campaign to reduce the number of home fire deaths and injuries by 25 percent; home fires remain the biggest disaster threat to individuals and families in the United States. This campaign is in direct response to that dire threat, with the Red Cross committing to install 2.5 million free smoke alarms in neighborhoods at high risk for fires, and to educate those residents about fire prevention and preparedness.
In the American Red Cross Central and Southern Illinois Region 14 lives have been saved because of the Home Fire Campaign, including the lives of 7 young children. To date, volunteers and community partners in the Region have installed more than 5,500 free smoke alarms, visited more than 2,000 homes and helped more than 1,600 families create home fire escape plans.
“Our mission at the American Red Cross is to prevent and alleviate human suffering caused by disasters and saving 102 lives nationally and 14 in our Region, is the ultimate realization of the that mission,” said Lyn Hruska, Regional Chief Executive Officer for the American Red Cross Central and Southern Illinois Region. “There have been 14 lives saved here in the Central and Southern Illinois Region because of the Home Fire Campaign. Recently a young family of six in Quincy, Illinois escaped their burning home less than 24 hours after volunteers installed smoke alarms and helped them create a home fire escape plan. It is difficult to think about what might have happened if those smoke alarms had not been installed that day.”
Hruska adds, “As the Home Fire Campaign continues, I know that even more lives will be saved as more smoke alarms are installed and educational efforts continue across the country and our region. We couldn’t do what we do without our volunteers and our committed partners, especially those in the fire service, and are grateful to them for their hard work in achieving this milestone.”
The Home Fire Campaign is informed by data from the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s U.S. Fire Administration, which hosts the National Fire Incident Reporting System. The System is the world’s largest, national database of fire incident information and contains information on over 75 percent of all reported fires in the U.S.
To support the campaign, the Red Cross referenced more than 740,000 records from FEMA’s home fire database and combined it with Red Cross data on fires. The Red Cross used that data to target outreach activities in neighborhoods with a higher risk for home fires. Two grants from the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Fire Prevention and Safety Grants program helped to fund the campaign, giving almost $3 million during the last two years.
“This campaign shows that we are not powerless when it comes to preventing home fires and protecting our families from fire-related fatalities,” said FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate. “Combining data with real world action to prepare for home fires, saves lives. We commend the American Red Cross and the community groups across the nation involved in this innovative effort for their work to make our communities stronger and safer.”
Since the Home Fire campaign began, nearly 450,000 smoke alarms have been installed in all 50 states and four territories, and it has reached nearly 570,000 children through campaign youth preparedness education programs, such as The Pillowcase Project.
HOME FIRE SAFETY Most home fires can be prevented. Homeowners should avoid using items that can be hazardous, such as candles and space heaters – common items that can turn dangerous very quickly.
To help avoid a fire in the home, here are steps to take now:
- Install smoke alarms on every level of the home and outside each sleeping area, placing them on the ceiling or high on the wall.
- Put a smoke alarm inside every bedroom.
- Test the smoke alarms regularly. Install new batteries every year, or according to the alarm manufacturer’s instructions.
- Conduct a smoke alarm check for your loved ones. Make sure that older relatives, other family members and neighbors – particularly those with children – also have smoke alarms installed.
- Get new smoke alarms every ten years.
- Keep items that can catch on fire at least three feet away from anything that gets hot, such as sources of heat or stoves.
- Never smoke in bed.
- Turn portable heaters off when leaving the room or going to sleep.
PRACTICE YOUR DRILL You may only have two minutes to escape when a fire occurs, but most people mistakenly believe they have more than twice as long to get out. The Red Cross recommends that households develop a fire escape plan and practice it at least twice a year with everyone who lives in the home. People should know two ways to escape from every room and designate a safe place to meet outside the home in case of a fire. Discuss the plan with everyone in the household and practice until every member of your household – including children – can escape in less than two minutes.
RED CROSS APPS People can download the all-inclusive Red Cross Emergency app which combines more than 35 emergency alerts to help keep the user safe. And there is a special mobile app – Monster Guard – designed for kids, teaching them to prepare for emergencies at home by playing an engaging game. Users can find the apps in smartphone app stores by searching for the American Red Cross or going to redcross.org/apps.
WHAT PEOPLE CAN DO People can visit redcross.org/homefires to find out more about how to protect themselves and their loved ones from a fire. They can become a Red Cross volunteer. They can also help by donating 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.
