St. Louis, Friday, January 18, 2008—The American Red Cross St. Louis Area Chapter urges all families of the St. Louis region to prepare for and prevent home fires. The number of home fires the Red Cross responds to nationwide is up 10 percent since the year 2000, yet only 26 percent of families have developed and practiced a home fire escape plan according to a May 2006 poll conducted by ORC International on behalf of the Red Cross.

 

Preparedness is especially important for African American families as they are disproportionately more affected by home fires. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, African Americans make up less than 13 percent of the U.S. population but represent 25 percent of all fire deaths, according to the U.S. Fire Administration. In addition, children within the African-American community are more than twice as likely to die in a home fire than the rest of the African American population.

 

“In 2007, the St. Louis Area Chapter responded to more than 1,200 home fires,” said Mary Anderson, director of disaster readiness and response for the St. Louis Area Chapter. “One of the easiest ways to prepare for a fire is to check that all of your home’s smoke alarms work. Smoke alarms should be installed outside of each sleeping area and on each level of your home. Use the test button to check your alarms once a month and replace your batteries at least once a year.”

 

The American Red Cross offers the following home fire prevention and safety tips:

·          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.

·          Never leave cooking food unattended.

·          Keep all potential newspapers, matches, bedding, clothing and rugs at least three feet away from heat sources, such as space heaters, fireplaces and stoves.

·          Never use a cooking range or oven to heat your home.

·          Turn off portable space heaters every time you leave the room or go to sleep.

 

“Many people don’t realize that preparing for a fire takes little time and is cost-effective.” said Greg Render, Fire Chief for the Signal Hill Fire Department in Belleville, IL. “There are a number of resources available to the public on preventing fires. In addition to the Red Cross, many fire districts provide fire prevention information and educational opportunities to residents they serve.”

 

For More Information:

To learn more about how to prepare for a home fire, please call 314.516.2800 or log on to www.redcrossstl.org.

 

About the American Red Cross St. Louis Area Chapter:
Founded in 1917, the American Red Cross St. Louis Area Chapter celebrates 91 years of dedicated service, providing emergency relief and preparedness training more than 446,600 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.