BROOKVILLE – This last weekend, the Clearfield-Jefferson Chapter of the American Red Cross responded to two home fires in Jefferson County, providing victims with family services and financial support for emergency needs. The Chapter also provides refreshments to the fire crews working hard at the scene. These fires mark the tenth Red Cross response since July 1st, a 42 percent increase since 2006.
“Nationwide, 400,000 plus home fires affect families every year, taking the lives of 3,000 people, approximately one person every two hours,” said Kristy Baughman, Emergency Services Director. “Young children are the most at risk as fire is a leading cause of unintentional death for those under age five, and the elderly are two and a half times more likely to die in a home fire than the rest of the general population.”
Despite these sobering statistics, only one in four families have actually developed and practiced a home fire escape plan to ensure that even the youngest member of their family can escape quickly and safely. Unlike some natural disasters, home fires are often preventable and there are simple steps that all families can take to protect their home and family members from fires.
The Red Cross recommends the following to help prevent and prepare for home fires:
• Install a smoke alarm on every level of your home.
• Test smoke alarm batteries every month and change them once a year.
• Make sure everyone in your family knows at least two ways to escape from every room of your home.
• Practice your fire escape plan at least twice a year.
• Keep all potential sources of fuel like paper, clothing, bedding, or rugs at least three feet away from space heaters, stoves, or fireplaces.
• Portable heaters and fireplaces should never be left unattended. Turn off space heaters or fully extinguish the fire and embers before going to bed or leaving home.
• Never leave cooking food unattended.
• Keep anything that can catch fire—pot holders, oven mitts, wooden utensils, paper or plastic bags, food packaging, and towels or curtains—away from your stovetop, oven or any appliance that generates heat.
“Our chapter is committed to responding to help meet the needs of anyone in our community affected by the devastation of a home fire, and to empowering people with the skills they need to keep their families safe from a fire before it happens,” said Baughman. “However, we rely on the compassion and generosity of local residents to give us the financial resources to relieve suffering in our community. As the number of fires increase, so does the need for financial support of the Red Cross. Financial gifts to the Clearfield-Jefferson Chapter will allow us to continue to provide help to our neighbors during their time of need.”
The Red Cross Web site contains information on how families can learn to “Be Red Cross Ready” for disasters such as home fires. Donors can also visit the site to make a secure online donation to support the Clearfield-Jefferson Chapter, or they can also call 814-765-5516 or 814-849-2712.