Did you know the biggest disaster threat in the United
States isn’t floods, hurricanes or tornadoes; it’s fire. Across the
country, the American Red Cross responds to more than 60, 000 home fires every
year, providing meals, shelter, comfort and support to help families get back
on their feet.
Fires not only destroy homes and personal belongings, but
they also cause serious injury and death. Home fires can happen to
anyone, anywhere. In fact, seven times a day, a person dies in a home fire in
the U.S., according to the National Fire Protection Association, and a
fire-related injury is reported every 40 minutes.
Take these two simple steps to protect your home and increase your chances of surviving a fire:
get a smoke alarm and create a fire escape plan.
Learn more about home fire prevention at the Red Cross website. You can download a Fire Safety Checklist and print out a home fire escape plan worksheet.
