It’s National Fire Safety Week
National Fire Prevention Week is Oct. 6-12, and the American Red Cross urges everyone to practice their home fire escape plans and test their smoke alarms.
“This is the time of year we see more home fires happen,” said Joel Sullivan, regional executive for the American Red Cross of Tennessee. “As cold weather increases the risk of home fires, we are urging all Tennessee families to please prepare now during Fire Prevention Week.”
The Red Cross suggests testing smoke alarms on every level of the home and for residents to practice an escape plan to make sure everyone in the home can get out in two minutes or less if a fire were to occur.
For free home fire safety resources, visit redcross.org/homefires or download the free Red Cross Emergency App (search “American Red Cross” in app stores).
Include at least two ways to get out of each room in your home fire escape plan.
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 gather.
Practice your escape plan until everyone can get out in two minutes or less.
Install smoke alarms on every level of the home, placing them inside and outside bedrooms and sleeping areas. Test smoke alarms monthly, and change the batteries at least once a year, if the model requires it.
Home fires take seven lives each day in the U.S., most often in homes without working smoke alarms.
Over the past five years, the Red Cross campaign has saved at least 642 lives across the country.
