Red Cross Prepare-a-thon to host virtual fire safety training for Connecticut residents

Home fires claim seven lives every day, but you can help change that. This spring, join the American Red Cross Sound the Alarm Prepare-a-thon and help provide lifesaving home fire safety education to residents throughout Connecticut. 

Every day, Red Cross volunteers are helping families impacted by disaster, mostly home fires. Since the start of 2021, the Red Cross has seen a 40% increase in local home fire responses compared to this time last year. 

“Home fires remain the most frequent disaster during COVID-19, yet most of us don’t realize we have just two minutes to safely escape,” said Mario Bruno, CEO, American Red Cross Connecticut and Rhode Island Region. “As families spend more time at home during the pandemic, it’s critical that we help our neighbors protect themselves from these everyday disasters.”  

JOIN US Between April 8 – May 8, the Red Cross is launching a virtual month-long Sound the Alarm Prepare-a-thon to educate communities about home fire and how people can better prepare themselves and their loved ones. The Red Cross is looking for volunteers who can help provide preparedness education to people in their networks, such as friends, neighbors, or coworkers.  

“I hope you will join me in this year’s Sound the Alarm Prepare-a-thon virtual home fire safety event,” said Bruno. “The time you give to educate others may be the difference between survival and tragedy for someone faced with a home fire.” 

Volunteers can sign up to participate in the Prepare-a-thon as an individual or put together a team. Training and materials will be provided to all participants. Volunteers can deliver the quick 10-minute home fire education to people they know over the phone or via video conference at their convenience throughout the month. There will be prizes for top volunteers, those who educate the most people. 

Sign up today to help keep families safe from home fire. Visit www.redcross.org/CTSoundTheAlarm for more information. 

HOW TO KEEP YOUR FAMILY SAFE Help protect your family against home fires by taking two simple steps: Practice your two-minute escape drill and test your smoke alarms monthly. Pledge today to educate yourself and others at www.redcross.org/CTSoundTheAlarm.  

• Create an escape plan with at least two ways to exit every room in your home. Select a meeting spot at a safe distance away from your home, such as your neighbor’s home or landmark like a specific tree in your front yard, where everyone knows to meet. 
• Practice your escape plan until everyone in your household can get out in less than two minutes. 
• Place smoke alarms on each level of your home, including inside and outside bedrooms and sleeping areas. Change the batteries at least once a year if your model requires it. 
• Check the manufacturer’s date of your smoke alarms. If they’re 10 years or older, they likely need to be replaced. Follow your alarm’s manufacturer instructions. 

This work is made possible thanks to generous financial donations from regional partners: The Hartford, Amica Insurance, The Connecticut Apartment Association, FM Global, National Grid, Purdue Pharma, and Wells Fargo.