For Antigo Times

The biggest disaster threat to families isn’t floods or tornadoes; it’s fire. Home fires all too often end in tragedy. Seven times a day, someone in this country dies in a home fire. The American Red Cross has launched a nationwide campaign to reduce fire fatalities and severe injuries by 25 percent over the next five years by installing smoke alarms and providing home fire safety education.

Every family is asked to take three steps to help minimize their risk:

• Install smoke alarms on every level of the home and check them monthly by pressing the test button.
• Create a fire escape plan identifying two escape routes from every room of the home and a place a short distance outside of the home where family members can meet after escaping.
• Practice the escape plan at least twice a year, paying particular attention to children or older adults who may require extra time and care.

65 percent of all fire-related deaths occur in homes that have no functioning smoke alarms, yet a recent Red Cross survey found that 40 percent of people had lived in a home with no smoke alarm and 20 percent have disabled a smoke alarm because of nuisance beeping or flashing lights.

For residents within Langlade County who are disabled, elderly and low-income, physical barriers and financial challenge of purchasing new smoke alarms shouldn’t be a deterrent to safety. That’s why the Red Cross is offering to install smoke alarms. In partnership with fire departments throughout Langlade County, the Red Cross will help residents to install new alarms and create an escape plan at no cost the resident.  If you are in need of working smoke alarms and fire safety education, please register at getasmokealarm.org 

Help reduce fire related injuries and deaths by taking a few actions in your own home.