CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — Later this month, the Coastal Bend Chapter of the American Red Cross will be working with the Corpus Christi Fire Department to install free smoke alarms in Corpus Christi. It is part of their ‘Sound the Alarm’ event, as they try to reduce the number of lives lost in a house fire.
The numbers are eye-opening.
According to the National Fire Protection Association, seven people die in a fire each day, many in their own homes; with electrical problems, cooking mishaps and faulty heating equipment all putting people at risk.
Assistant Fire Chief with the Corpus Christi Fire Department, Randy Paige, said having smoke alarms purposely placed in your house is central to stopping or escaping a fire before someone is injured.
“We’ve seen countless fire deaths over the years where, as we went through the investigation, you’re looking for smoke detectors and there are none,” Paige said.
Sadly, some people just do not take the time to see that they are installed and working properly.
“You take a very big risk when you don’t have smoke detectors because they are your first line of defense,” he said.
That is where the Red Cross wants to help.
On Saturday, April 13, they need volunteers to canvas the area bounded by Port Avenue, Morgan Avenue and Staples Street, an area they have determined is at high risk for home fires and home fire fatalities. They will register residents for free smoke alarms.
Volunteers will return to install the smoke alarms on the following Saturday, April 20.
American Red Cross Coastal Bend Executive Director Angelina Garcia is helping to lead the effort.
“It’s not just going in and installing smoke detectors, we’re also doing home fire safety tips with them, helping them map out an escape plan, making sure that everyone in the household knows how to safely exit the home in the event that there is smoke in the home,” Garcia said.
The goal is to install 200 smoke alarms and the Red Cross is willing to teach anyone who is willing to help what to do.
“This is a perfect opportunity for Corpus Christi residents to do what we do well, and that’s help each other,” Garcia said.
Even if you do not live in the neighborhood they are targeting this time around but still need a smoke alarm, the Red Cross says just to let them know and they will be happy to help.
Anyone who would either like to work as a volunteer or sign-up to get a smoke alarm, may do so on the Red Cross website.