American Red Cross says “Turn Clocks Forward, Test Smoke Detectors”

Courtesy American Red Cross:

Daylight saving time begins this Sunday and the American Red Cross urges everyone to test their smoke alarms when turning their clocks forward.

“The Red Cross wants everyone to stay safe,” said Steph Novacek, Executive Director of the American Red Cross of Capital Area and Eastern Nebraska. “This weekend, please take time to ‘turn and test’ to protect you and your family against the life-threatening risk of home fires.”

This weekend, the Red Cross asks everyone to take these simple steps:

• Check smoke alarm batteries. When turning the clocks ahead, take a few minutes to replace the smoke alarm batteries if needed and push the test button to make sure the alarms are working. It’s also a great time to check carbon monoxide detectors.
• Install smoke alarms. If you don’t have working smoke alarms, install them. At a minimum, put one on every level of the home, inside bedrooms and outside sleeping areas. Check local building codes for additional requirements.
• Practice an escape plan. Make sure everyone in the household knows two ways to get out of every room and how to get out of the home in less than two minutes.

Help #EndHomeFires Through Sound The Alarm

Every eight minutes, the Red Cross responds to a disaster—most often, home fires and many of those are in homes without working smoke alarms. This spring, the American Red Cross seeks volunteers to help install 100,000 free smoke alarms nationally during a two-week push of Sound the Alarm home fire safety events.

People can register now at SoundTheAlarm.org to volunteer at home fire safety and smoke alarm installation events in their area and raise donations to help save lives from home fires. These crises are the nation’s most frequent disaster and kill seven people each day.

“Neighbors vulnerable to home fires need your support today to prevent needless tragedies,” Novacek said. “You can help families by ensuring they have working smoke alarms and know how to stay safe from these everyday disasters. Please join us to volunteer and raise funds to support our free, lifesaving services.”

Sound the Alarm events are part of the Home Fire Campaign, which the Red Cross launched in 2014 to reduce fire deaths and injuries. So far, it has reached more than 1.7 million people and saved more than 500 lives nationwide.