Red Cross, HOPE Worldwide Volunteers to Distribute Home Fire Safety Tips
January 19 through Martin Luther King, Jr. Day will not be a holiday for many volunteers from the American Red Cross and HOPE worldwide. In ten cities across America, volunteers will be walking door-to-door to provide residents with vital preparedness information that will help them prevent and respond to home fires.
"Preventing home fires does not require a lot of expensive equipment or training," said Darlene Sparks Washington, director for preparedness at the American Red Cross. "Home fires are America's most common disaster threat, affecting people from all backgrounds and geographic locations. And yet, most home fires are preventable. By working with HOPE worldwide we will be able to reach more people, including an emphasis on vulnerable populations, with vital preparedness information to help them keep their homes safer from fires."
Volunteers from the two organizations will distribute fire safety tips in Atlanta, Boston, Baltimore, Chicago, Denver, Los Angeles, New York, San Diego, Seattle, and Washington, D.C. The tips, in English and Spanish, include information for maintaining smoke alarms, using portable heaters safely, and cooking safety. Instructions for developing a household fire escape plan and conducting fire escape drills will also be provided.
"HOPE worldwide volunteers are ready and mobilized to go door-to-door in communities across the country from New York to Seattle," said Antonio Boyd, vice president of U.S. Programs for HOPE worldwide. "We are excited to take the message of fire safety to our communities, neighbors and friends. We are honored and excited to serve on Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service for all Americans."
For more information, visit www.redcross.org.