On March 19, volunteers and members of the American Red Cross of Southwestern Pennsylvania Chapter, Pittsburgh Bureau of Fire and Mt. Oliver Fire Department will join together to install free smoke alarms for local families during a Sound the Alarm event in Mt. Oliver, Carrick and Knoxville. This home fire safety event is part of the national Red Cross Home Fire Campaign aimed at reducing fire deaths and injuries across the country.
Red Cross volunteers and local firefighters will meet on March 19 at 9 a.m. at the Mt. Oliver Fire Department (120 Brownsville Rd, Pittsburgh, PA 15210). Teams will go door-to-door in Mt. Oliver, Carrick and Knoxville to install free smoke alarms until 3 p.m. During the 20-minute home visits, volunteers will also share information on the causes of home fires, how to prevent them, what to do if a fire starts and how to create an escape plan.
“Every second counts when there’s a home fire because you may have as little as two minutes to escape before it’s too late,” Patricia Waldinger, Chief Executive Officer of the American Red Cross of Southwestern Pennsylvania Chapter, said. “That’s why Red Cross volunteers will be out with the Mt. Oliver Fire Department and Pittsburgh Bureau of Fire to help families take critical steps to protect themselves against these everyday disasters.”
People interested in volunteering for the March 19 event can sign up online. Volunteers must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, but no prior experience is needed — training will be provided.
HOW TO PROTECT YOUR FAMILY To help protect your family from a home fire, place smoke alarms on each level of your home, including inside and outside bedrooms and sleeping areas. Test alarms monthly and change the batteries at least once a year, if your model requires it. Create a home fire escape plan with at least two ways to exit every room in your home. Practice your plan until everyone in your household can get out in less than two minutes.
OUR CAMPAIGN TO #ENDHOMEFIRES Sound the Alarm events are a critical part of the national Red Cross Home Fire Campaign, which has helped save 1,201 lives since launching in October 2014. As part of the campaign in Southwestern Pennsylvania, the Red Cross and local partners have:
- Installed more than 18,600 free smoke alarms
- Made more than 6,800 households safer from the threat of home fires
- Reached more than 11,000 children through youth preparedness programs
About the American Red Cross:
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides comfort to victims of disasters; supplies about 40% of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; distributes international humanitarian aid; and supports veterans, military members and their families. The Red Cross is a nonprofit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to deliver its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or CruzRojaAmericana.org, or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.
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