CHARLOTTE, N.C. - The American Red Cross joins forces with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (Blue Cross NC), Lowe’s Home Improvement, Duke Energy, Piedmont Natural Gas, Resolve by Lowe’s, the Charlotte Fire Department, local businesses and members of our community to Sound the Alarm in Charlotte and help reduce the number of deaths and injuries caused by home fires.
Sound the Alarm is co-presented in Charlotte by Lowe’s and Blue Cross NC. Blue Cross NC’s sponsorship of this event is part of its larger statewide investment of $1 million to the Red Cross Home Fire Campaign.
“The Red Cross responds to nearly 64,000 disasters a year, the majority of which are home fires, and what many people don’t realize is that home fires are the biggest disaster threat our community faces, killing 7 people in this country every day,” said Angela Broome Powley, regional executive officer, Red Cross Western North Carolina Region. “We’re excited to Sound the Alarm in Charlotte because we know that working smoke alarms cut the risk of death by half, and having an escape plan further improves the odds of surviving a home fire.”
In 2017, 83 North Carolinians died from home fires. In January 2018 alone, 17 people in North Carolina lost their lives in a home fire. With the help of our community and corporate partners, the Red Cross can reduce these numbers. Today and tomorrow in Charlotte, volunteers are canvassing neighborhoods, installing free smoke alarms, replacing batteries in existing alarms and helping families create escape plans. The Red Cross goal is to install 850 free smoke alarms.
“Blue Cross NC is proud to support the Red Cross’ Home Fire Campaign in this important effort to save lives,” said Cheryl Parquet, Director of Strategic Community Investments of Blue Cross NC. “Smoke alarms are the first line of defense for surviving a home fire, and through Sound the Alarm, the Red Cross is providing lifesaving fire prevention and preparedness information and tools.”
Sound the Alarm smoke alarm installation events are part of the ongoing Home Fire Campaign. Since the launch of the Home Fire Campaign in 2014, Red Cross volunteers and members of more than 4,400 partner organizations have installed more than 1,100,000 smoke alarms in nearly 12,400 cities and towns in all 50 states, serving more than 1,262,000 people. This effort has saved at least 416 lives, including at least 1 in North Carolina. In 2017 in the Charlotte metro area, the Red Cross responded to 210 home fires and assisted nearly 700 people.
“Lowe’s is proud to have partnered with the American Red Cross for the past 20 years to not only help people love where they live, but to help people keep their homes safe,” said Quoinesha Jones, Lowe’s Community Relations. “Sound the Alarm smoke alarm installation events allow us to do just that.”
Together, we can Sound the Alarm about fire safety and help save lives.
About the American Red Cross
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.
About Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina improves the health and well-being of our customers and communities through innovative health care products, insurance, services and information to more than 3.8 million members, including approximately 1 million served on behalf of other Blue Cross and/or Blue Shield plans. Since 1933, we have worked to make North Carolina a better place to live through our support of community organizations, programs and events that promote good health. Blue Cross NC is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. Visit Blue Cross NC online at bcbsnc.com. All other marks are the property of their respective owners.
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