This Weekend: Turn, Test and Prevent Home Fires with the Red Cross

This weekend, as we turn our clocks back in preparation of the end of daylight saving time, the American Red Cross of Western New York encourages everyone to use this time to test their smoke alarms.

Home fires are the nation's most frequent disaster and tragically take seven lives every day. That's why it's critical to take action now in order to keep you and your loved ones safe, especially since the threat of home fires increases with the holidays and colder weather.

In the past year alone, Red Cross volunteers within the region responded to nearly 900 home fires. While the Red Cross is always there in times of disaster, there are also a few simple steps that you can take this weekend to help protect your loved ones to help prevent home fires. 

During a fire, early warning from a working smoke alarm plus a fire escape plan that has been practiced regularly can save lives. As the clocks “fall back” when daylight saving time ends on Sunday, November 7, it’s also the perfect time to test your smoke alarms and replace the batteries if needed.

In addition to testing your smoke alarms this weekend, follow these three steps get your home ready:

1. Install smoke alarms on every level of your home, including inside and outside bedrooms and sleeping areas.  
2. Replace smoke alarms that are 10 years or older. Components such as sensors can become less sensitive over time. Follow your alarm's manufacturer instructions.  
3. Practice your two-minute home fire escape plan. Make sure everyone in your household can get out in less than two minutes — that’s the amount of time you may have to escape a burning home before it’s too late. Include at least two ways to get out of every room and 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 meet.

HOME FIRE CAMPAIGN SAVES 1,000+ LIVES Since October 2014, the Red Cross Home Fire Campaign with community partners has saved at least 1,048 lives — including 43 in our region — by educating families about fire safety, helping them create escape plans and installing free smoke alarms in high-risk areas. In the past year, Red Cross volunteers and partners across our 27-county footprint have installed 1,466 alarms and helped make 913 households safer.