The American Red Cross is helping reduce injuries and deaths related to home fires by installing fire alarms for families.
To commemorate its 100th year serving communities nationwide, the Red Cross Serving the South Plains is installing 100 fire alarms in 100 homes on April 7, said Laura Hann, executive director of the South Plains chapter. This idea is unique to the chapter, she said.
“If you have a smoke alarm that you don’t think is working as well as it should, we would also be more than happy to go into their home, look at it and replace it,” she said. “We’d be happy to come in and replace old smoke alarms. We’ll also be happy to replace batteries if you are just in need of batteries in the alarm as well.”
However, they need the community’s help in raising the funds necessary to be successful.
It costs $15 to purchase the smoke alarm and supplies, Hann said. They also have to physically go to a home, sit down with homeowners, provide some customized education around home fire safety, and test the alarm, said Hann. The organization is halfway to its goal of $1,500.
City council members Juan Chadis of District 1 and Shelia Patterson Harris of District 2 are working alongside the Red Cross.
“We know there are individuals who do not have fire alarms in their homes and we want to be on the proactive side of this things to help folks before they find themselves on that side of the situation,” said Patterson Harris.
Patterson Harris encouraged people to reach out to her or Chadis if they are in need because they do not want anyone to miss out.
This one-day project is just the catalyst for a larger nationwide effort by the American Red Cross called “Sound the Alarm,” said Hann.
This effort will install 100,000 alarms across the nation to “reduce the number of death and injuries from home fires,” she said.
Despite their initiative on April 7 and their national efforts, it is not necessary to wait until those days to schedule an alarm installation.
If you would like to donate, volunteer or sign up for a fire alarm installation, visit redcross.org/lubbock or call 806-765-8534.
In addition, you can donate at crowdrise.com/redcrossnorthtexas.
