Volunteers Install Smoke Alarms for Fire Safety Awareness Month

It starts with a knock on the door, followed by a simple question: “Would you like a free smoke alarm installed?”

The end result yielded dozens of homes made safer, thanks to Spectrum employees and local community partnerships.

Recently, as part of the Spectrum Housing Assist program, volunteers went door-to-door, installing smoke detectors, replacing batteries and providing fire safety education to homeowners. With the help of the American Red Cross, as a part of its national Home Fire Campaign, volunteers visited homes in Alton, Illinois and Cape Girardeau, Missouri.

Many Overlook Installing Lifesaving Smoke Alarms

A Spectrum volunteer helps install a smoke alarm at a home in Cape Girardeau, Missouri.

In Alton, volunteers worked alongside the Fire Department, and installed 48 smoke detectors. Beyond the installation, homeowners were encouraged to create an escape plan and practice it twice a year.

A few weeks later, another group of Spectrum volunteers worked with the American Red Cross in Cape Girardeau for a similar event. More than 20 homes received new smoke detectors and homeowners were thankful for the fire prevention efforts.

“It’s a such a simple thing to do, but many of us overlook the importance of making sure we have at least one working smoke alarm, “ said Ben Quackenbos, a Spectrum Business Account Executive. “I think we did a great job with the installs and it feels good to help give back to the community.”

More Than 100 Lives Saved and Counting

Volunteers went door-to-door, installing smoke detectors, replacing batteries and providing fire safety education to homeowners.

The American Red Cross tracks installations and as part of their fire safety program they believe that so far 111 lives have been saved nationwide, including five in the St. Louis area.

According to the American Red Cross, someone dies in a home fire seven times each day, and a fire-related injury occurs nearly 40 times per day. Installing working smoke alarms helps cut the risk of home fire fatalities in half.

You can learn more about the Home Fire Campaign, and get more information from the American Red Cross website.