Red Cross urges residents to test smoke alarms as clocks fall back Sunday

As daylight saving time ends on Sunday, November 2, the American Red Cross is encouraging Tennesseans to test their smoke alarms while turning clocks back this weekend. Working smoke alarms cut the risk of dying in a home fire in half, and most people have only about two minutes to safely escape once a fire starts. The Red Cross emphasizes that testing smoke alarms is an important step to help prevent home fire tragedies. Over the past year, Red Cross volunteers responded to help nearly 5,000 Tennesseans affected by 1,370 home fires. Home fires make up the majority of the roughly 65,000 disasters the organization responds to each year across the country.

Residents are urged to:
• Install smoke alarms on every level of the home, including inside and outside bedrooms and sleeping areas.
• Replace smoke alarms that are 10 years or older.
• Practice a two-minute home fire escape plan, including at least two exits from every room and a safe meeting spot outside.

Those who cannot afford smoke alarms or cannot install them may be eligible for help through the Red Cross. Since launching the Home Fire Campaign in 2014, the Red Cross and its partners have saved at least 2,500 lives through fire safety education and free smoke alarm installations in high-risk areas. More information on smoke alarm safety and installation assistance is available through local Red Cross offices or at redcross.org.