The American Red Cross, multiple fire departments and community partners are teaming-up to reduce deaths and injuries due to home fires in Brown County. They will be teaching people how to be prepared for home fires and install smoke alarms where needed.
The group will install 1,000 smoke alarms -- making this the state's largest single-day event.
This will take place on Saturday, April 23. The Red Cross will lead teams to pre-registered homes and then go door-to-door throughout historically fire prone neighborhoods from 8:00a.m. - 4:00p.m.
The will install the smoke alarms and give out information on how to prevent fires and how to make a family escape plan.
The Red Cross still needs volunteers for the event, and people who are bilingual in English and Spanish are especially needed. Members of the public are invited to sign up to volunteer for the outreach efforts at redcross.org/browncounty]redcross.org/BrownCounty.
The effort is part of an ongoing, five-year campaign by the American Red Cross to reduce deaths and injuries caused by home fires by 25 percent. Home fires are the most common disaster to which the Red Cross responds.
WHAT: Red Cross volunteers installing smoke alarms throughout Brown County.
WHEN: 8:00a.m. Kick-off rally includes training, team photos and resources.
WHERE: Ashwaubenon High School, 2391 South Ridge Road, Green Bay, WI 54304
WHY: Working smoke alarms improve chances of surviving a home fire by 50 percent.
In addition to reaching out to neighborhoods to install smoke alarms, the Red Cross also is asking every household in America to take the two simple steps that can save lives:
Ensure you have working smoke alarms - install at least one smoke alarm on each level of your home, especially outside bedrooms. If you have smoke alarms, test them regularly to ensure they work and replace the batteries twice annually.
Have and practice a home escape plan - make sure every member of your household knows two routes out of your home and where to meet up in case of an emergency. Make sure they know they have less than 2 minutes to escape safely, and practice your plan so you can escape in that little time.
For more information about the Home Fire Campaign, visit www.redcross.org/browncounty or contact Lee Borofka, volunteer coordinator at Lee.Borofka@redcross.org or 920-227-4286.
