Press release from the American Red Cross:
American Red Cross Urges Families to Prepare for Home Fires During Fire Prevention and Public Safety Month
Offers Simple Advice, Tips around the Home
The largest disaster threat to families across our nation every day is not a flood or hurricane; it is a fire. Last year, the American Red Cross of Northeast Indiana responded to approximately 110 home and apartment fires, providing shelter, food, and mental health needs in the aftermath. The Red Cross responds to more than 63,000 local fires throughout the nation each year.
“Unlike natural disasters, home fires can often be prevented,” says Katherine MacAulay, Chief Operations Officer for the American Red Cross of Northeast Indiana. “We want families to have the information and resources they need to educate their children and prevent a home fire tragedy.”
The Red Cross recommends that adults:
- Keep matches, lighters, and other ignitable substances in a secured location out of the reach of children.
- Develop and practice your home fire escape plan with your children several times a year.
- Familiarize children with the sound of your smoke alarm and what to do when they hear it.
- Teach your children to tell you or a responsible adult when they find matches or lighters at home or school.
- Check under beds and in closets for burnt matches, evidence your child may be playing with fire.
- Install a smoke alarm in every sleeping area of your home. Having a working smoke alarm reduces the risk of dying in a home fire by nearly half.
The Red Cross depends on the generous support of northeast Indiana residents to respond to our neighbors’ immediate needs who are affected by home fires. You can help the Red Cross be ready to respond and help fire victims by making a financial contribution today. To make a financial donation, please visit redcrossofnei.org or call Jeri Rusk at (260) 484.9336 ext. 230. For more information on fire safety and preparedness information and community presentations, please contact Evan Brazitis at (260) 484.9336 ext. 234.
About the American Red Cross
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies nearly half of the nation’s blood; teaches lifesaving skills; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a charitable organization — not a government agency — and depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. The American Red Cross of Northeast Indiana serves seven counties: Allen, DeKalb, Noble, Steuben, Wells and Whitley Counties in Indiana and Williams County in Ohio. For more information, call (260) 484-9336 or 1-800-513-2599, or visit redcrossofnei.org.
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