PHILADELPHIA, PA — The American Red Cross Southeastern Pennsylvania Region is urging residents to test their smoke alarms as clocks move forward for daylight saving time on Sunday, March 8.
The reminder is part of the organization’s annual safety message encouraging households to check alarms and replace batteries when they change their clocks.
“Working smoke alarms cut the risk of dying in a home fire in half, and that’s critical because you may have less than two minutes to safely get out,” said Jennifer Graham, CEO of the Red Cross Southeastern Pennsylvania Region.
“Every second counts when there’s a home fire, and the sooner an alarm alerts you to a fire, the sooner you can get to a safer place,” Graham said.
The Red Cross said its volunteers have assisted more than 665 people in Southeastern Pennsylvania affected by 154 home fires since January.
Home fires account for the majority of the roughly 65,000 disasters the organization responds to nationwide each year, according to the Red Cross.
The organization recommends installing smoke alarms on every level of a home and inside and outside sleeping areas.
Residents should also replace alarms that are 10 years old or older because internal components can become less sensitive over time.
Officials encourage families to practice a home fire escape plan and ensure everyone in the household can exit the home in less than two minutes.
The plan should include at least two ways to leave each room and a designated meeting location outside the home.
The Red Cross said residents who cannot afford smoke alarms or are unable to install them may request assistance through its Sound the Alarm program at https://soundthealarm.org/Philly.
Since the Red Cross launched its Home Fire Campaign in October 2014, the organization says the effort has helped save at least 2,577 lives nationwide, including at least 37 in Southeastern Pennsylvania.
Additional fire safety information and emergency preparedness resources are available at https://www.redcross.org/fire.
The Red Cross also offers a free Emergency app that provides alerts and preparedness guidance, available by searching “American Red Cross” in mobile app stores.
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