The Savannah Red Cross is urging families to install and maintain working smoke alarms to save lives and protect against injury and loss due to fire.

“It’s a little known fact that home fires are the biggest disaster we face in this area. In fact, 94 percent of the disasters the Savannah Red Cross responded to last year were home fires,” said Robin Wingate, CEO of the Savannah Chapter of the American Red Cross.  

The American Red Cross recommends the following:
• Check smoke alarms monthly by following the manufacturer’s instructions.

• Change the batteries in your alarm at least once a year, or as soon as you hear a low-battery warning which usually sounds like a “chirping” noise.

• Teach children what the smoke alarm sounds like and what to do when they hear it.

• Keep smoke alarms clean by vacuuming over and around it regularly.  Dust and debris can interfere with its operation.

• Do not paint over your smoke alarm as it could impair its function.

• Never remove the battery from or disable a smoke alarm.  If your smoke alarm is sounding “nuisance alarms,” try locating it further from kitchens or bathrooms.