AMERICAN RED CROSS PARTNERS WITH LOCAL COMMUNITY TO SAVE LIVES IN VAN NUYS
(Van Nuys, September 26, 2015). As part of a multi-year national Home Fire Prevention Campaign, the American Red Cross worked with Los Angeles Fire Department Station 39, Los Angeles Police Department cadets, and Assembly member Adrin Nazarian to install more than 100 free smoke detectors in 45 Van Nuys homes.
Red Cross and local community volunteers went door to door providing Van Nuys residents with critical home fire prevention information and making 32 emergency plans with more than 100 local Van Nuys family members.
“Seven people die per day in a home fire in the United States and the rate is increasing. We are working with local fire departments to help reduce home fires and save lives”, said Ron Farina, Executive Director for the American Red Cross of Northern Valleys.
In response to the alarming number of home fires in the United States, the American Red Cross has launched the nationwide Home Fire Preparedness Campaign, which aims to reduce the number of fire related injuries and deaths by 25 percent in the next five years.
“We are recommending two easy steps to help protect their home and increase chances of surviving a fire: have working smoke alarms and create home fire escape plans” added Farina.
Fire experts agree that people may have as little as two minutes to escape a burning home before it’s too late to get out. Working smoke alarms can double someone’s chance of surviving a fire. The American Red Cross Home Fire Campaign is possible thanks to the support of local partners such as community organizations, local fire departments and city officials. The American Red Cross is encouraging local organizations to join the campaign. For more information about our program contact [email protected].
About the American Red Cross:
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcrossla.org or visit us on Twitter at @RedCrossLA or @CruzRojaLA