Volunteers with Sound the Alarm promote fire safety and prevention
Dozens of volunteers joined American Red Cross and the Madison Fire Department on May 3 for a hands-on effort to prevent fire-related deaths and injuries in the area. The group installed 71 free smoke alarms in 35 homes as part of the Red Cross’ national Sound the Alarm campaign.
The event focused on reaching households in need of working smoke alarms and fire safety education. During each home visit, volunteers installed alarms and helped residents create personalized fire escape plans.
“We know that working smoke alarms can cut the risk of dying in a home fire by half,” said Patty Brooks, executive director of Red Cross in Eastern South Dakota. “Our volunteers were proud to bring this life-saving service to Madison, and we’re grateful to the local partners who made it possible.”
Sound the Alarm is part of the Red Cross Home Fire Campaign, a national initiative launched in 2014. The campaign has been credited with saving more than 2,200 lives across the country.
Locally, the effort was supported in part by Interlakes Area United Way, which sponsored a similar event in 2019 that brought 13 volunteers to Canova, SD, where they installed 52 smoke alarms.
“This is a powerful example of what can happen when organizations come together for a common cause,” said IAUW President Lori Gustaf. “Keeping our communities safe is part of our mission, and we’re proud to support efforts like Sound the Alarm that make a real difference.”
The day began with remarks and training at the Madison Fire Department. Local volunteers included representatives from IAUW, Domestic Violence Network, and other community partners.
The Red Cross encourages all households to test smoke alarms monthly, replace the batteries annually, and replace the alarms themselves every 10 years.
For more information about Sound the Alarm or to request a free smoke alarm installation, visit redcross.org/sound-the-alarm.
NorthWestern Energy generously provided lunch for volunteers. Other Red Cross partners include national sponsor State Farm and regional sponsors Sanford Health, Marathon Minnesota, Medica Foundation, Sammons Financial, Scheels, Border States, Ames Construction, Inc., Avera Health, Gate City Bank, Goldmark Property Management, Inc., Lewis, Basin Electric Power Cooperative, Uponor, Inc. and Essentia Health.