American Red Cross asks you to stay safe this weekend, Friday, November 3, through Sunday, November 5, 2023.
“Home fires take more lives every year than all other disasters combined, but working smoke alarms can cut the risk of dying in a home fire in half,” said Trish Burnett, Interim Executive Director for the Red Cross of Northwest Illinois. “The sooner an alarm alerts you to a fire, the sooner you can get out. When you turn your clocks back this weekend, test your smoke alarms, too, to help prevent a tragedy in your home.”
Daylight Saving Time ends on Sunday, November 5. The American Red Cross encourages everyone to test smoke alarms, as they turn their clocks back, to make sure the alarms are working.
1. Install smoke alarms on every level of your home and inside and outside sleeping areas.
2. Replace smoke alarms that are ten years or older.
3. Practice your two-minute home Fire Escape Plan.
4. Make sure everyone in your household can get out in less than two minutes.
5. Include at least two ways to get out of every room.
6. Select a meeting spot at a safe distance away from your home.
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. Call 800-Red Cross for more information or visit redcross.org/homefires.
HOME FIRE CAMPAIGN SAVE LIVES Since October 2014, the Red Cross Home Fire Campaign, working with community partners, has saved at least 1928 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 you can get involved, visit redcross.org/homefires.