 Survey Finds Concerns about Economy May Increase Incidence of Home Fires Fire Prevention Week Survey Shows Nearly Half of Americans Planning to Use Alternative Heating Sources this Winter St. Louis,Tuesday,October 7, 2008 - The American Red Cross St. Louis Area Chapter responds to nearly 1,200 home fires each year, providing food, clothing, shelter and comfort to help families pick up the pieces. A recent survey conducted by the American Red Cross and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) finds concerns that the economy may increase incidence of home fires. The survey showed 79% of Americans are concerned about the rising cost of heating their homes and many will use an alternative heating source to reduce their bills this winter. The survey identified additional behaviors related to appliance maintenance and cooking that could also present home fire hazards this winter. "As we head into, what by all accounts is likely to be a very costly heating season, these survey results and Fire Prevention Week (October 5-11) provide a critical opportunity for us to remind people about the things they can do to prevent home fires and keep their families safe and warm this winter," said NFPA President James. M. Shannon. "If people use alternative heat sources to reduce energy costs, it is critical they use devices that are new or in good working order, and they turn off units when they go to bed or leave the room." Mary Anderson, director of disaster readiness and response at the American Red Cross St. Louis Area Chapter said, "Home fires can be just as devastating as any other type of disaster. We hope this survey encourages people to prepare for emergencies. The Red Cross is here for you every step of the way-from providing information to help people prevent home fires to helping anyone affected by a home fire."
Heating and Cooking Fires:
According to NFPA reports, cooking and heating are the leading causes of home fires. The survey revealed the majority of Americans are concerned about the rising cost of heating their homes (79%), and that 48% of households will use an alternative heating source to reduce their bills this winter. Alternative heating sources include portable space heaters, stoves, ovens and fireplaces. A third (36%) of people with fireplaces reported they never cleaned or inspected their chimneys. The survey also found 23% of respondents did not consider it essential to make sure someone is home when food is cooking on the stove.
Smoke Alarms and Fire Escape Plans:
The survey also revealed unsafe behaviors regarding smoke alarms and fire escape plans. The first unsafe behavior is that 37% of respondents disable smoke alarms when they go off in a non-testing situation. The second is more than half (53%) of the households surveyed have not taken any of three common actions in most home fire escape plans, including discussing with family members how to get out of the home, deciding on an outdoor meeting place, and practicing the plan.
NFPA and the American Red Cross offer these and other safety tips: - Stay in the kitchen when you are frying, grilling or broiling food. If you must leave, even for a short time, turn off the stove.
- Give space heaters space by keeping them at least 3 feet from anything that can burn. Turn off heaters when you leave the room or go to sleep.
- Install smoke alarms on every level of your home, inside bedrooms and outside sleeping areas.
For more information: About Red Cross Emergency Services: The American Red Cross provides immediate assistance with food, clothing, shelter and other needs in the wake of disasters and emergencies. The Red Cross is able to respond 24 hours a day, seven days a week and provide a vast array of programs and services throughout the region due to the dedication of thousands of volunteers that give freely of their time. 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 402,000 times each year. The Red Cross is a charity, 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 proud 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. NOTE TO EDITORS: Research findings from a telephone survey of 1,003 U.S. Adults 18 years and older on September 25-28, 2008 conducted by CARAVAN® . Margin of error is +/- 3.1%t at the 95% confidence level. If you report data from the survey, source it as originating from American Red Cross/National Fire Protection Association 2008. A full data set can be accessed at http://www.redcross.org/en/survey/homefires/. |