American Red Cross: Seven Steps to Home Fire Safety

The Grand Canyon Chapter encourages Arizonans to practice home fire safety as October 4-10 marks National Fire Prevention Week.

Home fires are America’s biggest disaster threat. Last year, Grand Canyon Chapter volunteers responded to 534 disasters, most of them were home fires. Red Cross volunteers are on the scene of home fires nearly twice a day to ensure victims have a safe place to sleep, food and emotional support.

Unlike other natural disasters, most home fires can be prevented. The Red Cross is committed to teaching people the skills they need to prevent home fires, protect themselves should they experience a fire; and helping home fire victims.

Preventing home fires doesn’t require a lot of expensive equipment or training. Smoke alarms save lives. Sixty-five percent of home fire deaths happen in homes with no smoke alarms at all or no smoke alarms that work.

Home Fire Safety Tips:
• Install a smoke alarm outside each sleeping area and on each additional level of your home.
• Check each smoke alarm once a month. When necessary, replace batteries immediately. Replace all batteries at least once a year.
• Consider having one or more working fire extinguishers in your home. Get training from the fire department in how to use them.
• Determine at least two ways to escape from every room of your home.
• Consider escape ladders for sleeping areas on the second or third floor. Learn how to use them and store them near the window.
• Select a location outside your home where everyone would meet after escaping.
• Practice your escape plan at least twice a year.

About the American Red Cross Grand Canyon Chapter The American Red Cross Grand Canyon Chapter is where volunteers from across central and northern Arizona come together to help people in need every day. The volunteer-led organization serves more than 5.2 million people in communities across Apache, Coconino, Gila, La Paz, Maricopa, Mohave, Navajo, Pinal, Yavapai and Yuma counties. The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies 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 financial generosity of Arizona neighbors to perform its mission. For more information, please visit www.arizonaredcross.org or call 1-800-842-7349. . To give blood, visit www.givelife.org or call 1-800-GIVE LIFE.