Red Cross Offers Fire Safety Tips for Fire Prevention Week

This Fire Prevention Week, October 6 to 12, the American Red Cross on Long Island encourages households to practice a home fire escape plan, test smoke alarms and assess where smoke alarms should be replaced or added.

Home fires claim seven lives every day in the United States and more lives in a typical year than all natural disasters combined, but having working smoke alarms can cut the risk of death by half, according to the Red Cross.

“Fire now travels faster through homes, largely due to popular open-concept layouts and synthetic materials,” said Jose Dominguez, the Red Cross chapter CEO on Long Island. “The sooner an alarm alerts you to a fire, the sooner you can get out. This is critical because fire experts say you may have less than two minutes to escape a burning home before it’s too late.”

The Red Cross advises households to test smoke alarms each month and practice an escape plan until everyone can get out in less than two minutes.

Red Cross Tips for Creating a Home Fire Escape Plan and Practicing a 2-Minute Drill:

Everyone in your household should know two ways to escape from each room in your home.

Smoke is dangerous. Get low and go!

Decide where to meet once you get outside. Select a meeting spot at a safe distance away from your home, such as a neighbor’s home or landmark like a specific tree in your front yard, where everyone knows to meet.

Get out and stay out. Never go back inside for people, pets or things.

If a fire starts, you may have less than two minutes to get to safety. Time your fire drill and find out: What’s your escape time?

While practicing your escape plan, teach children what a smoke alarm sounds like. Talk about fire safety and what to do in an emergency.

Smoke Alarm Safety:

Place smoke alarms on each level of your home, including inside and outside bedrooms and sleeping areas.

In addition to testing your alarms once a month, change the batteries at least once a year, if your model requires it.

Also check the manufacturer’s date of your smoke alarms. If they’re 10 years or older, they need to be replaced because the sensor becomes less sensitive over time. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions.