The American Red Cross knows every ounce of prevention is worth it, so the agency reached out to Hope Mills residents with a “Sound the Alarm” program to install free smoke detectors for homeowners who signed up.
“Our goal is to save lives,” Phil Harris, executive director of the American Red Cross Sandhills, said in a WNCN report. “In 2021, there were 139 home fire responses in Cumberland County. That’s why we want to make sure everyone has working smoke alarms, which can cut the risk of dying in a home fire by half.”
The Red Cross, a disaster relief agency, installed the smoke alarms on Saturday. More than just drilling a couple of holes and putting in a couple of screws, members also gave homeowners and family members a quick lesson on fires, such as causes, how to prevent them, how to make a plan in case of a fire and what to do if a fire starts.
While a smoke alarm doesn’t do much to stop a fire from starting, it gives people a chance to exit the building before succumbing to smoke inhalation or being burned.
“Most people don’t realize they only have about two minutes to escape a home fire — and that smoke alarms need to be replaced every 10 years.” Harris said. “Taking action with this knowledge can be the difference between survival and tragedy.”
