The biggest disaster threat to American families isn’t floods, hurricanes or tornadoes; it’s fire. The American Red Cross responds to a disaster every eight minutes and nearly all of these are home fires.
“Home fires are a common and deadly threat because they happen so quickly,” said Rod Kop, CEO of Montana Red Cross. “We urge everyone to become aware of what they should do to prevent a fire in their home.”
According to the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA), there are almost 365,000 residential fires reported in the U.S. every year. These fires cause more than $6 billion in property loss. While the frequency of fire deaths has steadily decreased over the past ten years due to increased awareness and safety measures, more than 2,400 Americans still die every year in home fires.
“Here in Montana, the Red Cross responds to all kinds of disasters, says Kopp. “But our most common response, bar none, is house fires. The truth is that most home fires can be prevented.” Homeowners should check for items that can be hazardous such as candles and space heaters – common items that can turn dangerous very quickly.
TO HELP AVOID A FIRE IN THE HOME, TAKE THESE PRECAUTIONS:
• Keep items that can catch on fire at least three feet away from anything that gets hot, such as sources of heat or stoves.
• Never smoke in bed.
• Turn portable heaters off when leaving the room or going to sleep.
SMOKE ALARMS SAVE LIVES
• Install smoke alarms on every level of the home and outside each sleeping area. Put a smoke alarm inside every bedroom. Because smoke rises, put the alarms on the ceiling or high on the wall.
• Test the smoke alarms regularly. Install new batteries every year.
• Get new smoke alarms every ten years.
MAKE A PLAN
The Red Cross recommends that households develop a fire escape plan and practice it at least twice a year with everyone who lives in the home. People should know two ways to escape from every room and designate a safe place to meet outside the home in case of a fire.
OTHER SAFETY TIPS
• Follow the escape plan in case of fire. Get out, stay out, and call 9-1-1 or the local emergency number.
• Install smoke alarms on every level of the house and inside bedrooms.
• Replace batteries in smoke alarms at least once a year. Test each alarm monthly by pushing the test button.
• Download the Red Cross First Aid App to get access to life-saving information on what to do for common, everyday first aid emergencies including burns. The app is available in the Apple App Store and on Google Play for Android.
People can visit http://www.redcross.org/montana for more steps they can take to lessen the chance of a fire in their home.
You can help people affected by home fires, as well as countless other disasters at home and around the world, by making a donation to support American Red Cross Disaster Relief. Your gift enables the Red Cross to prepare for and provide shelter, food, emotional support and other assistance in response to disasters. Visit http://www.redcross.org/montana or call 1-800-ARC-MONT (1-800-272-6668). Contributions may also be sent to American Red Cross of Montana, 1300 28th Street South, Great Falls, MT 59405.
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