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Red Cross Reminder to Check Smoke Alarms When Turning
Clocks Back This Weekend
Published: November 04, 2023
at 12:00 a.m.
By: Press Release from American Red Cross
Red Cross asks you to TEST your smoke alarms as you
TURN your clocks back this weekend to help stay safe
from home fires
Home fires take more lives every year than all other
disasters combined
ALBANY, NOVEMBER
1, 2023 — Daylight saving time ends on November 5 and the
American Red Cross encourages everyone to test their smoke alarms as they turn
their clocks back to make sure the alarms are working.
“Home fires claim
more lives every year than all natural disasters combined, but working
smoke alarms can cut the risk of dying in a home fire in half,”
said Kevin Coffey, Chief Executive Officer, Eastern New York
Region. “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.”
Serving 27
counties, the Eastern New York Region is comprised of the Central and
Northern New York, Hudson Valley, and Northeastern New York chapters.
Over the past 12
months, local Red Cross volunteers responded to help 1,169
families affected by 687 home fires, which account for most
of the more than 60,000 disasters that the Red Cross responds to annually
across the country.
SMOKE ALARMS When
turning your clocks back this weekend, test your smoke alarms and replace
the batteries if needed. Visit redcross.org/fire for
more information, including an escape plan to create and practice with your
family, or download the free Red Cross Emergency app by
searching “American Red Cross” in app stores.
- Install smoke alarms on every level of your
home, including inside and outside bedrooms and sleeping areas.
- 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.
- Practice your two-minute home fire escape
plan. Make sure everyone in your household can get out in less than
two minutes — 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.
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. Residents
who need assistance can request a home fire safety visit soundthealarm.org/eny or contact preparedness.eny@redcross.org or
518-694-5121.
HOME FIRE
CAMPAIGN SAVE LIVES Since October 2014, the Red Cross Home
Fire Campaign, working with community partners, has saved at least 1,969 lives,
including more than 100 in Eastern New York, 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.
About the
American Red Cross:
The American Red
Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of
disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation's blood; teaches skills
that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports
military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit
organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American
public to perform its mission. For more information, please
visit www.redcross.org/eny and
follow @RedCrossENY on
Twitter.
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