National Fire Prevention Week is Oct. 6 to 12, and the American Red Cross of Eastern Pennsylvania urges everyone to practice their home fire escape plan and test their smoke alarms.

“During Fire Prevention Week, prepare your family for home fires before the holidays and cold weather increase the risk of these disasters,” said American Red Cross Eastern Pennsylvania CEO Guy Triano. “Home fires are most often caused by cooking and heating equipment, and we want everyone to stay safe.

“Please install and test smoke alarms on every level of your home and practice your escape plan until everyone can get out in two minutes or less.”

PRACTICE YOUR PLAN AND TEST YOUR ALARMS

For free home fire safety resources, including how to get free smoke alarms installed by the Red Cross, visit redcross.org/homefires.

Here are some simple ways you can keep your family safe:

• Include at least two ways to get out of each room in your home fire escape plan.

• Select a meeting spot at a safe distance away from your home, such as your neighbor’s home or landmark like a specific tree in your front yard, where everyone can meet.

• Practice your escape plan until everyone can get out in two minutes or less.

• Install smoke alarms on every level of your home, placing them inside and outside bedrooms, and sleeping areas.

• Test smoke alarms monthly, and change the batteries at least once a year, if your model requires it.

LIFESAVING HOME FIRE CAMPAIGN

Home fires take seven lives each day in the U.S., most often in homes without working smoke alarms.

That’s why the Red Cross is working with partners to install free smoke alarms in high-risk communities and help families create escape plans through its Home Fire Campaign — which has saved at least 638 lives across the country since launching in October 2014.

Over the past five years in Northeastern Pennsylvania and the Poconos (Carbon, Monroe, Lackawanna, Luzerne, Pike, Schuylkill, Susquehanna, Wayne and Wyoming) the American Red Cross of Eastern Pennsylvania and local partners have:

• Installed nearly 20,000 free smoke alarms

• Reached 20,500 children through youth preparedness programs

• Made 7,100 households safer from the threat of home fires.

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.

For more information, please visit redcross.org or cruzrojaamericana.org.