(The following information was provided by the American Red Cross of Southeastern Pennsylvania.)
Daylight saving time ends this Sunday morning, Nov. 5, and the American Red Cross encourages everyone to test their smoke alarms as theyturn their clocks back to make sure the alarms are working.
"Home fires claim more lives every year than all natural disasters combined, but working smoke alarms can cut the risk of dying in a home fire in half,” said American Red Cross of Southeastern Pennsylvania CEO Jennifer Graham. "The sooner an alarm alerts you to a fire, the sooner you can get out. When you turn your clocks back this weekend, test your smoke alarms too to help prevent a tragedy in your home.”
In 2023 so far, local Red Cross volunteers responded to help nearly 2,000 people in Philadelphia, Bucks, Chester, Delaware, and Montgomery counties affected by at least 600 home fires, which account for most of the more than 60,000 disasters that the Red Cross responds to annually across the country.
Smoke Alarms
When turning your clocks back this weekend, test your smoke alarms and replace the batteries if needed. Visit redcross.org/fire for more information, including an escape plan to create and practice with your family, or download the free Red Cross Emergency app by searching "American Red Cross” in app stores.
If You Need Help
If you cannot afford to purchase smoke alarms or are physically unable to install one, the Red Cross may be able to help. Visit soundthealarm.org/philly or call 215-299-4029 for more information.
Home Fire Campaign Saves Lives
Since October 2014, the Red Cross Home Fire Campaign, working with community partners, has saved at least 1,969 lives by educating families about fire safety, helping them create escape plans and installing free smoke alarms in high-risk areas across the country. To learn more about the campaign and how you can get involved, visit redcross.org/homefires.