Letters to the Editor

Beware of fire hazards

The biggest disaster threat to families across our nation every day isn't floods or hurricanes; it's fire.

Last year, the Grundy County Chapter responded to more than 14 fires in Grundy County, part of home fire responses by the American Red Cross to more than 63,000 local fires throughout the country.

History has taught us that the incidence of home fires generally increases during the fall and winter and most commonly occur on Saturdays and Sundays in the early evening.

The American Red Cross is urging Grundy County residents to take some simple, inexpensive steps to help minimize the risk for this type of devastating disaster:

• Install smoke alarms on every level of their home, inside bedrooms and outside of sleeping areas; check them monthly by pressing the test button.

• Create a fire escape plan identifying two escape routes from every room of their home and designate a meeting place a short distance from the home where family members can meet should they be separated during a fire.

• Practice their escape plan at least twice a year, paying particular attention to children or older adults who may require extra time and care.

For more information on how to minimize the risk of home fires, contact the Grundy County Chapter for information or visit: www.redcross.org.

Ken Buck

executive director

American Red Cross

Grundy County Chapter