SCI Smithfield staff participated in the United Way's annual Day of Caring in conjunction with the American Red Cross. Staff volunteers went door-to-door in the Three Springs, PA, area and installed smoke alarms in homes who needed them, replaced batteries in existing alarms and provided fire prevention and safety education.
In 2014, The American Red Cross launched a home fire campaign. They report that seven people die every day in homes that lack smoke alarms. Children and elderly disproportionately lose their lives in home fires. The work of the American Red Cross and 30,000 volunteers nationwide, just like SCI Smithfield staff, have saved 638 lives, installed 1,915,555 smoke alarms, 793,343 households made safer and 1,470,325 youth have been reached through the campaign.
It is recommended that you check your smoke alarms on a monthly basis, install new batteries immediately when the battery warning alarm sounds, clean smoke alarms regularly by vacuuming them with a brush attachment, place them on the ceiling if possible (or if wall-mounted they should be hung four to twelve inches from the ceiling and at least four inches from the nearest wall) and be sure to replace smoke alarms every 10 years for optimum performance. In the event of a fire, be sure you talk to those in your home to ensure that everyone knows at least two escape routes. If you have elderly family members or friends who live alone, take the time to look at their home alarms and educate them. There are bed shaker alarms available for hearing-impaired individuals.
SCI Smithfield staff have participated in the United Way Day of Caring for a number of years and have had the opportunity to install smoke alarms over the last two. It is a worthwhile community event and a great opportunity to represent the facility and the Department of Corrections.