Chattanooga Pulse

Sixty-five percent of home fire deaths happen in homes with no smoke alarms or with smoke alarms that don’t work.  That is why the American Red Cross and area firefighters get together twice a year to distribute free smoke alarms, check batteries and provide life saving safety information.

“Everyday we see the importance of having working smoke alarms.  In just the last two weeks, the Greater Chattanooga Area Red Cross assisted 37 people who suffered the devastating effects of a home fire with volunteers providing more than $6,000 in direct assistance,” said Barbara Alexander, executive director, Greater Chattanooga Area American Red Cross.

Members of the Red Cross Disaster Action Team and Youth Council will be working alongside the fire department and area realtors beginning at 10:00 AM on Saturday, October 31.  Red Cross volunteers will be handing out fire prevention packets and the fire department will be carrying ladders and going door to door with us to install the smoke alarms

Smoke alarms for the distribution were supplied through the generosity of the Chattanooga Association of Realtors.

Approximately 300 homes will be visited in an area bounded by Jersey Pike, Oakwood Drive, Rosemary Drive and Basswood Drive,” noted Fire Marshal David Brooks of the Chattanooga Fire Department.  “While our firefighters are busy helping those in the Washington Hills area, I would like to remind all residents that it’s important to check your smoke alarm’s batteries once a month by pushing the test button and to make sure you have smoke detectors on every level of your home, inside bedrooms and outside sleeping areas.”

“In addition to having working smoke alarms, one of the easiest ways you can prepare is to develop and practice a home fire escape plan so that every family member can escape quickly and safely,” concluded Alexander.

The American Red Cross and the Chattanooga Fire Department offer the following recommendations regarding fire escape plans:

•        Family plans should include two ways to escape from every room in the home.
•        Practice your escape plan at least twice a year.
•        Select a safe location away from the home where your family can meet after escaping.
•        Consider purchasing and storing escape ladders for rooms above ground level and practice using them.
•        If you see smoke or fire in your first escape route, use your second way out.
•        If you must exit through smoke, crawl low under the smoke.
•        Before escaping through a closed door, feel the door before opening it. If it is warm, use your second escape route.
•        If smoke, heat or flames block both of your exit routes, stay in the room with the door closed.  Place a rolled towel underneath the door. Signal for help by waving a brightly colored cloth or shining a flashlight at the window.  If there is a telephone in the room, call the fire department and let them know your exact location inside the home.
•        Once you’ve escaped your home, stay out.

The American Red Cross depends on the generous support of the local community to help meet the needs of our neighbors who are affected by home fires.  You can help the Red Cross and donate to the local chapter by sending a check to Chattanooga Area Red Cross, 801 McCallie Ave, Chattanooga, TN  37403 or by visiting www.chattanoogaredcross.org/donate.