Red Cross urging you to test your smoke alarms as clocks change
The American Red Cross is encouraging you to test your their smoke alarms to make sure the devices are working as you turn the clocks forward of daylight saving time on Sunday.
'Working smoke alarms cut the risk of dying in a home fire in half as you only have about two minutes to safely get out,' Jorge Martinez, CEO of the American Red Cross of Greater Pennsylvania, said in a release. 'Every second counts when there's a home fire and the sooner an alarm alerts you to a fire, the sooner you can get to a safer place. When daylight saving time starts this weekend, test your smoke alarms to help prevent a tragedy in your home.'
Over the past year, local Red Cross volunteers responded to help more than 6,100 people across Pennsylvania affected by more than 1,500 home fires, which account for most of the about 65,000 disasters that organization responds to annually across the country.
The organization suggests:
• Installing smoke alarms on every level of your home, including inside and outside bedrooms and sleeping areas.
• Replacing smoke alarms that are 10 years or older. Components such as sensors can become less sensitive over time. Follow your alarm's manufacturer instructions.
• Practicing 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.
• Including at least two ways to get out of every room and selecting 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 can't afford to buy smoke alarms or are physically unable to install one, the Red Cross may be able to help. Go to SoundTheAlarm.org/GreaterPA for more information.
Since October 2014, the Red Cross Home Fire Campaign, along with community partners, has saved at least 2,284 lives by educating families about fire safety, helping them create escape plans and installing free smoke alarms in high-risk areas across the country. To learn more about the campaign and how to get involved, go to redcross.org/homefires.
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