Shocking Red Cross Home Fire Safety Survey Results & Sound the Alarm Event Information

Shocking Red Cross Home Fire Safety Survey Results & Sound the Alarm Event Information

Did you know that roughly 2 in 5 people think it is more likely they’ll win the lottery than lose their home in a fire? However, the real odds are the opposite and the chance of dying from exposure to fire or smoke is nearly 1 in 1,500. Compare that to the odds of winning the lottery which are typically one in millions. 

I was astonished to read these facts when I opened up an email from the Red Cross announcing the results of their recent Home Fire Safety Survey. This national public opinion survey was conducted by the Red Cross from January 31 to February 3, 2019 using Engine’s Online CARAVAN Omnibus Survey. The survey sample contained 1,003 adults, ages 18 or older who lived in the United State.  (The sample was balanced to represent the U.S adult population in terms of age, sex, geographic region, race, and education. The margin of error for the total sample of 1,003 adults is +/- 3.1 percentage points at the 95 percent confidence level.) To see more detailed information about survey results, watch the video below & check out the infographic at the bottom of the post. 

The survey is a scary reminder that most people do not take the danger of a home fire seriously and according to American Red Cross President & CEO Gail McGovern, “Home fires are the nation’s most frequent disaster, tragically taking seven lives each day and injuring many more.” She goes on to say that, “Sadly, home fires can happen anywhere, and to any family, and can be caused by everyday activities like making a home-cooked meal. We are encouraging everyone to please test your smoke alarms monthly and practice your home fire escape plan together.”

Testing your smoke alarms and practicing your home fire escape plan are just two of the ways you can help prepare yourself and your family in case of a fire. Another way is by reducing the amount of “Fire-Risk” activities you and your family engage in. The survey also showed that 96 percent engaged in “fire-risk” activities in their ordinary activities. These activities are among the leading causes of home fires. For example:  

• • More than 70 percent of people said they’ve left the kitchen while cooking on the stove.
  • Nearly three in five adults have walked away from their grill while cooking.
  • Nearly one-third of people left the room or fell asleep while burning candles.

To help prevent home fires, the Red Cross urges everyone to always supervise cooking equipment and candles and to follow additional safety tips such as the following:

• Install smoke alarms on every level of your home, inside bedrooms, and outside sleeping areas. 
• Test smoke alarms every month and change batteries when they are not working. 
• Set up a fire escape plan and go over it with family members or roommates. Make sure to practice it at least twice a year. 
• If a fire does occur, GET OUT, STAY OUT, and CALL FOR HELP. NEVER go back inside. 
• Help teach fire safety at your child’s school or daycare. 

You can discover even more safety tips by visiting redcross.org/homefires.

The Red Cross also says that 1 IN 10 DIDN’T BUY SMOKE ALARMS DUE TO COST. Working smoke alarms can cut the risk of dying in a home fire by half. But one in 10 adults reported not purchasing an alarm because of the expense. What’s more, while most people surveyed (98 percent) said they believe smoke alarms can save lives, nearly half said they’ve disconnected an alarm or taken the batteries out when it went off.

The American Red Cross of Tennessee wants everyone to stay safe from home fires and Chief Executive Officer, Joel Sullivan said, “We are committed to this mission, and this survey proves the need for our Home Fire Campaign and our Sound the Alarm home fire safety events that are taking place this spring. The Red Cross and our volunteers will install free smoke alarms and educate families on how they can escape a home fire safely.”

The Sound the Alarm campaign is a national campaign that has reached more than 1.7 million people and saved more than 550 lives. In order to make this year’s campaign a success they need volunteers. From April 27th – May 12th, the Red Cross is calling for volunteers in Tennessee to help install thousands of free smoke alarms during a two week push of the campaign’s Sound the Alarm home fire safety events. These events will take place in different cities across the state. People can register to volunteer and raise donations to support lifesaving services (which are free for families in need) by visiting SoundTheAlarm.org Those in need of smoke alarms can use the same link and click on the “Learn More and Request a Smoke Alarm” button. 

American Red Cross Home Fire Research from American Red Cross on Vimeo.

Along with personal donations this work is made possible thanks to generous support from Red Cross national partners which include Airbnb, Delta Air Lines, and Nissan North America. 

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 redcross.org or cruzrojaamericana.org, or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.