 National Fire Prevention Week is set for October 7 - 13
**Notice: To schedule an interview with a Red Cross spokesperson, please call 314.406.1920.**
St. Louis, Monday, October 1, 2007 - Fires kill more Americans each year than all natural disasters combined. For that reason, the American Red Cross St. Louis Area Chapter urges families to develop a fire escape plan and to actively practice it. Knowing and practicing fire escape plans is the focus of this year's National Fire Prevention Week, set for October 7 - 13.
With support from approximately 700 chapters nationwide, the American Red Cross responded to more than 73,000 disasters across the United States last year. Of those responses, more than 90% were fire related. Despite the prevalence of home fires, only a quarter of families nationally have developed and practiced a fire escape plan.
"Every year in the St. Louis area, home fires are the single most common disaster threat," said Joseph C. White, chief executive officer for the American Red Cross St. Louis Area Chapter. "In fact, the St. Louis Area Chapter provided immediate emergency assistance in the aftermath of more than 1,100 local fires last year."
More than three times every day, the American Red Cross St. Louis Area Chapter provides fire victims with assistance for food, clothing, prescription medications, temporary shelter and other special needs. The Red Cross is able to respond 24 hours a day, seven days a week and provide a wide range of programs and services throughout the region due to the dedication of volunteers.
"Preparing for a home fire doesn't require a lot of free time, but it's so important," continued White. "When you look into the eyes of a child who has lost everything in a fire, it becomes very clear that disasters can impact each of us, at any time, and in any place. Fire Prevention Week is a great time for families to talk about what they would do if it happened to them."
About Fire Escape Plans:
The Red Cross suggests that a fire escape plan include at least two escape routes for every room in the home, and a convenient meeting place at a safe distance from the fire. Families are encouraged to pay particular attention to developing and regularly practicing escape plans for children and the elderly due to their increased risk of injury or death from fire. According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), children and adults 65 and older are twice as likely to die in a home fire as the American population at large.
About Simple Steps to Prevent Fires:
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Keep all sources of fuel (paper, clothing, bedding, and carpets or rugs) at least three feet away from all heat sources when cooking, or when using alternative heating like a space heater.
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Provide constant adult supervision while cooking, or in rooms with lit candles or fireplaces. Burning candles should never be left unattended.
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Keep matches and lighters out of the reach of children.
About Simple Steps to Make Homes Safer:
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Smoke alarms save lives. Install a smoke alarm outside each sleeping area and on each additional level of the home. Use the test button to check each smoke alarm once a month.
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Determine at least two ways to escape from every room of your home.
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Select a location outside the home where everyone would meet after escaping. Once residents are out of the house, they should stay out. Call the fire department from a neighbor's home.
About Red Cross Community Disaster Education:
The American Red Cross St. Louis Area Chapter offers free Community Disaster Education presentations designed for all ages. These courses are provided on-site for schools, businesses and community organizations. Presentations can be tailored to meet specific needs and prepare participants for a variety of emergency scenarios - from home fires, winter storms, earthquakes and tornados to thunderstorms, floods and pandemic flu. Course curriculum is interactive, empowers participants to be proactive in their approach to preparing for the unexpected, and is featured online at www.redcrossstl.org. More than 82,000 St. Louisans benefit from these presentations each year.
For More Information:
To learn more about Fire Prevention Week or Community Disaster Education presentations, please contact the American Red Cross St. Louis Area Chapter at 314.516.2800 or www.redcrossstl.org.
About the American Red Cross St. Louis Area Chapter:
Founded in 1917, the American Red Cross St. Louis Area Chapter celebrates 90 years of dedicated service, providing emergency relief and preparedness training more than 410,000 times each year. The Red Cross is not a government agency and depends on the efforts of thousands of volunteers and donors to provide a wide range of community support services, including disaster relief, first aid and CPR training, water safety, services to military personnel and support for blood services. The Chapter, a United Way agency, provides programs and services to St. Louis City, St. Louis County, St. Charles County and Jefferson County in Missouri, as well as Monroe, St. Clair (including Scott Air Force Base) and part of Madison County in Illinois. All disaster relief services are provided free of charge thanks to the generosity of the American people. To learn more about Red Cross programs, volunteer opportunities, and how you can help, contact the St. Louis Area Chapter at 314.516.2800 or www.redcrossstl.org.
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