As daylight saving time ends, the American Red Cross is urging Tennessee residents to test their smoke alarms when they set their clocks back.
“Working smoke alarms cut the risk of dying in a home fire in half as you only have about two minutes to safely get out,” said Joel Sullivan, regional executive officer for the American Red Cross of Tennessee. “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. When daylight saving time ends this weekend, test your smoke alarms to help prevent a tragedy in your home.”
Over the past year, Red Cross volunteers assisted 4,980 Tennesseans affected by 1,370 home fires — the most common disaster among the roughly 65,000 the organization responds to nationwide each year.
The Red Cross advises residents to:
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Test smoke alarms and replace batteries if needed.
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Install alarms on every level of the home, inside and outside sleeping areas.
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Replace smoke alarms that are 10 years and older. Components such as sensors can become less sensitive over time. Follow your alarm’s manufacturer instructions.
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Practice a home fire escape plan that allows everyone to get out within two minutes, with two exit options per room and a designated meeting spot outside.
More fire safety resources are available at redcross.org/fire or through the free Red Cross Emergency app.
Residents who cannot afford alarms or need installation assistance can contact their local Red Cross.
Since 2014, the Red Cross Home Fire Campaign and its partners have saved at least 2,508 lives by providing fire safety education and installing free alarms in high-risk communities.
The Red Cross notes that its home fire safety efforts receive national support from State Farm®, the sponsor of Sound the Alarm.
