American Red Cross to distribute smoke alarms in Chattanooga
170 homes in Hillsboro neighborhood will receive detectors
The Southeast Tennessee American Red Cross, along with the Chattanooga Fire Department, will canvass the Hillsboro neighborhood of Chattanooga this Saturday to provide smoke alarms and replace batteries in existing ones.
About 50 volunteers will canvass 170 homes in a collaborative effort to lower the risk of fire.
The biannual event takes place on the day before the time changes every spring and fall.
In addition to installing free smoke alarms, the volunteers will also check batteries and the proper placement of existing alarms.
“We respond to about one home fire every nine minutes across the country. The best thing you can do to protect your loved ones is to install a smoke alarm and develop and practice a fire escape plan,” John Hitchens, emergency services manager for the American Red Cross, said in a prepared statement. “Fires can spread very quickly, so everyone at home, school and work should know what to do when they hear the sound of a smoke alarm.”
Smoke alarms should be on every level of a home and inside bedrooms, tested monthly and have batteries replaced at least once a year.
