Free smoke alarms, installations available
Free smoke alarms will be installed by Red Cross volunteers in the Kahului and Wailuku areas from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. April 24 to 27.
The installations will focus on vulnerable populations, such as the elderly, disabled, families with young children and those in poverty, the Red Cross news release said. The effort is part of the Red Cross Home Fire Campaign, in which volunteers also will be teaching residents how to prevent and escape from home fires.
Smoke alarm installations are by appointment only, and the Red Cross currently is accepting appointment requests. Call the Maui Red Cross Office at 244-0051, ext. 0, before April 23 and leave a message that includes a name and contact phone number. A volunteer will follow up by text or phone to schedule the appointment.
“Home fires can be a deadly threat because they happen so quickly,” said Maui Red Cross Director Michele Blair.
In the United States, home fires kill more people each year than all other natural disasters combined. An average of seven Americans die in home fires every day and working smoke alarms cut the rate of death in half, the Red Cross said.
Smoke alarms should be installed on every level of the home, including inside and outside bedrooms, the Red Cross said. Smoke alarms
should be tested once a month and batteries changed at least once a year if the model requires it.
Residents should make an escape plan and practice it at least twice a year because people only may have two minutes to escape a fire. Everyone should know two ways to escape from every room and designate a safe place to meet outside the home in case of a fire.
Discuss the plan with all household members and practice it until everyone — including children — can escape in less than two minutes.
The Red Cross Emergency App includes information on how to prevent home fires and what to do if one occurs. Parents can download the Monster Guard App to help their children learn what to do and how to protect themselves. Both apps may be downloaded for free in app stores or by going to redcross.org/apps.