Red Cross: Turn your clocks back, test your smoke alarms this weekend to help stay safe from home fires

 

As daylight saving time ends on November 6, the American Red Cross encourages everyone to test their smoke alarms as they turn their clocks back to help stay safe from home fires.

“Home fires claim more lives in a typical year than all natural disasters combined, but working smoke alarms can cut the risk of dying in a home fire by half,” said John Montes, Regional Disaster Officer, Red Cross Northern New England Region. “The sooner an alarm alerts you to a fire, the sooner you can get out. When you turn your clocks back this weekend, also test your smoke alarms to help prevent a tragedy in your home.”

So far this year, Red Cross Northern New England volunteers have responded to at least 432 home fires helping more than 1,642 people across New Hampshire, Vermont and Maine. Nationally, the Red Cross responds to more than 60,000 disasters each year.

HOW TO TURN AND TEST When turning your clocks back this weekend, test your smoke alarms and replace the batteries if needed. Visit redcross.org/fire for more information, including an escape plan to create and practice with your family, or download the free Red Cross Emergency app by searching "American Red Cross" in app stores.  

·        Install smoke alarms on every level of your home, including inside and outside bedrooms and sleeping areas.

·         Replace smoke alarms that are 10 years or older. Components such as sensors can   become less sensitive over time. Follow your alarm’s manufacturer instructions.

•    Practice your two-minute home fire escape plan. Make sure everyone in your household can     get out in less than two minutes — the amount of time you may have to escape a burning home     before it’s too late.
•   Include at least two ways to get out of every room and 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.

IF YOU NEED HELP If you cannot afford to purchase smoke alarms or are physically unable to install one, the Red Cross may be able to help. Visit redcross.org/EndHomeFiresNNE  or call 1-800-464-6692 (Option 4) to schedule your free installation appointment.

HOME FIRE CAMPAIGN SAVES LIVES Since October 2014, the Red Cross Home Fire Campaign with community partners has saved at least 1,414 lives by educating families about fire safety, helping them create escape plans and installing more than 2.4 million free smoke alarms in high-risk neighborhoods across the country. Visit redcross.org/homefires for more information.