Saving lives one smoke alarm at a time!
By Kate Walters, Volunteer/Public Affairs
Every day, seven people die in home fires, most in homes that lack working smoke alarms. Sadly, children and the elderly disproportionately lose their lives. The American Red Cross wants to improve the odds and save lives. From April 28 through May 13 teams of volunteers will be installing 100,000 free smoke alarms in more than 100 cities across the U.S.
The Sound the Alarm team is ready to go! Photo by Kate Walters
This morning our local Southeastern Colorado Red Cross volunteers along with community partner groups such as The Air Force Academy cadets and Team Rubicon put that plan into action as they installed free smoke alarms, inspected and/or replaced batteries in existing detectors and educated residents about fire prevention and establishing an escape plan. The team carried out the mission in 4 different high-risk communities.
Amanda Mazau was at home with her 12-month-old son getting ready to head out for a day of fun at a local farm. She hailed a team of volunteer installers from across the street. She had heard that the Red Cross would be in the area installing alarms and she welcomed the help. After inviting volunteers into her home, Air Force cadet Jeff Fadlovich quickly hopped up on a stepladder and Vietnam veteran Larry Peterson worked alongside to install the detectors. Meanwhile cadets Shannon Teicher and Jazmin Robinson helped Amanda identify potential fire hazards in the home, and prepare an evacuation plan that would allow her to get herself and her son out of the house within 2 minutes in the event of a home fire. The whole process took about 20 minutes and for the next 10 years Amanda and her son will be alerted should smoke be detected in her home. Saving lives one smoke alarm at a time.
Vietnam vet Larry Peterson educates homeowner Amanda Mazau. Photo by Kate Walters
Inside another residence, the homeowner was hard at work on a remodeling project. When our volunteers asked whether she had smoke alarms the owner realized that since the remodel began no smoke detectors had been installed. Being very careful not to damage the fresh paint on the walls, a special drill bit was used to install two brand new smoke alarms where there had been none. The team also took the time to help her map out a quick escape route should fire ever break out. They talked about the strategy she would use in order to rescue her 4 dogs while being sure not to risk her own life. She learned that in the event of a fire she needs to get out, stay out and call for help. Saving lives one smoke alarm at a time.
In still another home, Josh and his 11-year-old son invited a team in to check his smoke alarms. They talked about establishing a meeting point outside where they would go if they were forced to escape quickly. He also pointed out neighbors who could use help with installing alarms. He was so inspired by the time that volunteers spent with him and his son that he signed up to be a Red Cross volunteer himself. Saving lives one smoke alarm at a time.
Steve Sherman shares home fire prevention tips.
Photo by Beverly Santarelli
In an amazing act of mutual giving, a couple that lives in one of the communities where volunteers were active today became Red Cross volunteers themselves and helped with installations. It quickly became apparent that they were both severely hearing impaired. While they were hard at work helping their neighbors, a lead volunteer was working on getting them access to what is referred to as a “bedshaker” alarm. This is a device specifically designed to alert deaf and hard of hearing people to the presence of smoke by actually shaking the bed if the alarm is triggered. Soon our new volunteers will have smoke alarms on their beds that are adapted to their specific needs. Saving lives one smoke alarm at a time.
After all the teams finished visiting the homes in their assigned areas, they gathered together to share stories and eat pizza. “We had so much fun on an absolutely beautiful morning! We met so many interesting people”, said Cat Wile of Team Rubicon. Red Cross site lead Ruben Sende was very satisfied with the event saying, “As a group, we leave the area that we impacted safer than it was before we came.”
Red Cross National Headquarters has been able to confirm that over 400 lives have been saved nationally as a result of smoke alarms that were installed during the efforts of our Sound the Alarm campaign. Red Cross volunteers have canvassed neighborhoods, installed free smoke alarms, replaced batteries in existing alarms and provided fire prevention and safety education.
Ruben Sende and Alexa Batac load up supplies. Photo by Kate Walters
The American Red Cross asks you to take two simple steps to help prevent injury and death during a fire in your home. Check your smoke alarms monthly and practice fire drills at home. Every household should develop a fire escape plan and practice it several times a year and at different times of the day. The plan should include two ways to get out of every room and an established meeting point outside.
For more information on how to make an appointment to have a free smoke alarm installed in your home go to Redcross.org/soundthealarm.
This stands to be a very dry season in Colorado. If you are interested in donating your time as a local volunteer, sign up now at Redcross.org/volunteer so that you’ll be ready to help out in a disaster if the time comes. If you would like to donate money to the Sound the Alarm campaign or any other American Red Cross activities please go to Redcross.org/donate.
Dre’yana Anthony, Maia Young and Orion Rodgers prepare to install.
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 redcross.org or cruzrojaamericana.org, or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.