Fire Safety Tips From Your Local American Red Cross
Prepare Now for Peace of Mind Later

Newton, NJ, February 2, 2010 – Home fires are the most common disaster that the Red Cross responds to and also the most preventable. Families need to take a few simple precautions to avoid tragedies, such as having working smoke alarms on every level of their home and having family fire escape plans in place to help get everyone out of the house safely. The Sussex County Chapter of the American Red Cross has responded to many home fires this winter and strongly urges the community to prepare now for some peace of mind later. The American Red Cross recommends the following when creating your family escape plan:

• Identify 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.

• Consider purchasing and storing escape ladders for rooms above ground level and make sure to learn how to use them.

• If you see smoke or fire in your first escape route, use your second way out.

• If you must exit through smoke, crawl low under the smoke.

• Before escaping through a closed door, feel the door before opening it. If it is warm, use your second escape route.

• If smoke, heat or flames block both of your exit routes, stay in the room with the door closed.  Place a rolled towel underneath the door. Signal for help by waving a brightly colored cloth or shining a flashlight at the window.  If there is a telephone in the room, call the fire department and let them know your exact location inside the home.

• Once you've escaped, stay out.

Your local Red Cross also suggests attending “Be Red Cross Ready”, a one hour program (including time for questions/answers) which explains the three basic preparedness actions (Get a Kit, Make a plan, Be informed) that can better prepare you for a variety of disasters, from a power outage to a hurricane! The program can be presented at your location or at Red Cross Headquarters on Spring Street in Newton. Contact Lauri at 973-579-1600 to schedule today! 

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies nearly half of the nation's blood; teaches lifesaving skills; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a charitable organization — not a government agency — and depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit www.sussexredcross.org or call our office at 973-579-1600.