Volunteers to Canvass Neighborhood and Install Smoke Alarms
INDIANAPOLIS – To honor Fire Prevention Month during the month of October, Citizens Energy Group, the Indiana Region of the American Red Cross, George Washington Community High School and the Indianapolis Fire Department will come together on Saturday, October 14 to serve some of the most vulnerable communities throughout Indianapolis with the Home Fire Campaign.
This two-pronged approach to save lives allows for groups to check or install free smoke alarms, and practice emergency fire drills or other disaster-preparedness training at home. The Red Cross’ Home Fire Campaign events seek to ensure that individuals and families in Indiana have an emergency fire plan and have working smoke alarms in their homes.
AGENDA
Event Date: Saturday, October 14, 2017 (tomorrow)
Event Location:
George Washington Community High School
Fugate Room
2215 W. Washington St., Indianapolis, IN 46222
Event Timeline:
- 11-11:30AM – Training in the Fugate Room
- 11:30-1PM – canvassing in the neighborhood
- 1-1:30PM – lunch break
- 1:30-3PM – canvassing in the neighborhood
“This campaign is critical for us to build more resilient communities and save lives,” said Duchess Adjei, American Red Cross regional communication director. “We are concerned about fire prevention every day, though it’s with great pleasure that we acknowledge Fire Prevention Month during October, and thank all of our first responders and amazing groups like Citizens Energy Group, IFD and George Washington Community High School for their amazing support.”
“At Citizens Energy Group, safety is a guiding core value of our company,” said President & CEO Jeffrey Harrison. “That’s why we are so pleased to partner with the American Red Cross on the Home Fire Campaign. Over the past decade, Citizens has donated more than 70,000 smoke alarms to area fire departments and community members. We believe working with the American Red Cross will be especially effective because they will ensure the alarms are properly installed in homes most at risk for fires.”
GET INVOLVED
The American Red Cross’ Home Fire Campaign is a nationwide, multi-year effort to reduce the number of home fire deaths and injuries by 25 percent. People of all ages are vulnerable to home fires. Individuals, corporations or community organizations interested in volunteering in their community, can reach out to their local Red Cross chapter, call 1-888-684-1441 or visit redcross.org.
The Indiana Region serves 87 Indiana counties consisting of six Red Cross chapters: Central Indiana (Indianapolis headquarters), Northern Indiana (South Bend headquarters), Northeast Indiana (Fort Wayne headquarters), Northwest (Merrillville headquarters), Southern Indiana (Evansville headquarters) and West Central Indiana (Terre Haute headquarters). For more information on the Indiana Region: www.redcross.org/local/in. Follow the Indiana Region on Twitter at: @INRedCross, on Instagram at: @indianaredcross or www.facebook.com/INRedCross.
HOME-HEATING SAFETY
As cold weather approaches, Citizens Energy Group offers the following home-heating safety tips:
- Have a working smoke detector on every floor of the home, ideally near bedrooms.
- Furnaces should be inspected annually by a licensed technician and air filters should be replaced every 30 days. Keep area around furnace clear of any combustible materials such as brooms, mops, fuel, etc.
- Do not use an oven or stove as an alternative heating source. Turning on burners and/or opening the oven door in order to heat a home can be dangerous and sometimes deadly.
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 cruzrojaamericana.org, or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.
About Citizens Energy Group
Citizens Energy Group provides safe and reliable utility services to about 900,000 people in the Indianapolis area. Citizens operates its utilities for the benefit of customers and the community.
Media Contact Information
Laura O'Brien
Phone: 317-519-1515
Email: media@citizensenergygroup.com