Red Cross stresses fire prevention, seeks community support
Families urged to practice fire escape plans during Fire Prevention Week, Oct. 7-13, 2007

Oct. 1, 2007 — Fires kill more Americans and affect more households each year than all natural disasters combined.

To stay safe and well, families can prepare for a home fire during Fire Prevention Week, Oct. 7-13, 2007. According to a recent poll by the Red Cross, four out of five Americans are unaware that home fires are the most common disaster in the United States. Only 26 percent of families have actually developed and practiced a home fire escape plan.

During the last year alone, the American Red Cross serving Polk and Highlands Counties responded to more than 140 home fires. In just the last three months – July, August, and September 2007 – the local Red Cross assisted 68 families – totaling 268 people – almost all of whom were victims of home fires. Of those families, 32 were affected by fires that either damaged or destroyed apartment buildings or more than one house at a time.

At one recent apartment fire in northern Lakeland, eight families lost their homes to a blaze in the morning commuting hours. Parents ran out of the building with children and pets in their arms, saving no more than the clothing they had on. Firefighters rescued some other pets, but whatever wasn’t damaged by fire got soaked.

Preparing for a home fire doesn’t require a lot of expensive equipment or training. Fire Prevention Week is a great time for families to check smoke alarms, to prepare a portable disaster supplies kit to keep by the door or in a car, and to develop and practice a home fire escape plan, so that every family member can escape quickly and safely.

The Red Cross suggests that a fire escape plan include at least two escape routes for every room in the home, and a convenient meeting place at a safe distance from the house. Families should regularly practice escape plans for children and the elderly because of their increased risk of injury or death from fire.

To prepare a portable disaster supplies kit to keep by the door or in your car the Red Cross recommends including the following:

• Medications, copies of prescriptions and medical supplies
• Set of essential key copies (car, office, home)
• List of important contacts and phone numbers
• Copies of important documents (such as driver's license, Social Security card, proof of residence, insurance policies, wills, deeds, birth and marriage certificates, tax records, etc.)
• Battery-operated radio and batteries
• Extra cell phone charger or battery
• One change of clothing and shoes
• Small amount of emergency cash

You can also help your community prepare for fires by supporting your local American Red Cross. Any time of the day or night, on any day of the year, local American Red Cross volunteers stand ready to assist people in their communities who need help after a large or small disaster – most often home fires.

All American Red Cross disaster assistance is free, made possible by voluntary donations of time and money from the American people. You can help victims of current and future local disasters by making a financial gift to your local American Red Cross chapter. The American Red Cross honors donor intent. If you wish your donation to assist with a specific disaster, please indicate that when you make your donation. Contributions may be sent to Polk County Chapter, 147 Avenue A, NW, Winter Haven, FL 33881 or call (863) 294-5941.

For more information on fire preparedness, please visit http://polkcountyfl.redcross.org, or contact the Polk County Chapter at (863) 294-5941 or polkcofl@polkredcross.org.

Phone or email your American Red Cross for more information, and thank you for supporting your American Red Cross

Polk County -- polkcofl@polkredcross.org -- or call (863) 294-5941
Highlands County -- hcarc@vistanet.net -- or call (863) 386-4440.