Free Smoke Alarms Installed by the American Red Cross: How to Sign Up
Through its Home Fire Campaign and Sound the Alarm events, the American Red Cross offers free home fire safety visits that include free smoke alarm installation where available. Here is how to request one.
“Class, this is the one fire drill I want everyone to attend. Free smoke alarms, installed for you, and nobody has to climb a wobbly chair. Gold star.”
What is it?
The American Red Cross launched its Home Fire Campaign in 2014 to cut deaths and injuries from home fires. Its best-known part is Sound the Alarm, where trained volunteers visit homes, install free smoke alarms, and help families get ready for a fire.
The Red Cross says home fires take about seven lives every day in the United States, and that working smoke alarms can cut the risk of dying in a home fire by half. That is a lesson worth memorizing.
What a home fire safety visit includes
- Free smoke alarms installed by Red Cross trained volunteers or partners, for homes that need them.
- A personalized escape plan so everyone knows two ways out and where to meet.
- Fire safety tips for everyone in the household.
Details can vary by region. Some local chapters also discuss other local hazards, and some have provided special alarms for people who are deaf or hard of hearing. Ask your chapter what they offer.
Why I assign it to my students
- It costs nothing. The alarms and the visit are free.
- Someone else does the ladder work. A real help for anyone who should not be climbing.
- It is real safety, not a gimmick. This is a long-running program from a well-known charity.
How to request a visit, step by step
- Go to the Sound the Alarm page. Use the button on this handout.
- Enter your 5-digit zip code. The page connects you with your local Red Cross, where you can sign up for a home fire safety visit.
- Prefer the phone? Call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) and ask about free smoke alarm installation in your area, or use the Red Cross chapter finder online.
- Wait for a call back. A Red Cross representative typically contacts you to schedule.
- Get ready. Know how many bedrooms and floors you have, and think about who lives in the home.
Professor Ima’s quick tips
- Availability depends on where you live. If your area has a waitlist, sign up anyway.
- Test your alarms monthly. Push the button, hear the beep, give yourself a gold star.
- The Red Cross says to replace any smoke alarm that is 10 years old, because sensors get less sensitive over time.
- Practice your escape plan twice a year. Pop quiz: can everyone get out in two minutes?
Who it’s great for
- College students and renters: ask your landlord first, since many places require landlords to provide alarms, then use this program if gaps remain.
- Young families: a family escape plan is a smart lesson for kids, and volunteers make it easy.
- Working adults: busy schedules mean old alarms get ignored. This handles it.
- Retirees: no ladders, no lifting, and a friendly volunteer at the door. Grown children can sign up on behalf of a parent, too.
Things to watch for
- Scam alert: the Red Cross service is free. Be cautious of anyone who calls or knocks unexpectedly, claims to be from the Red Cross, and asks for payment. If unsure, call your local chapter to confirm.
- Do not remove batteries from a chirping alarm and forget about it. Replace the battery or the alarm.
- Program details and timing vary by chapter, and spring Sound the Alarm events may book up.
Frequently asked questions
Is it really free?
Yes. The Red Cross installs the alarms and provides the safety visit at no cost.
Is it available everywhere?
Not in every location. Enter your zip code or call to find out what your local chapter offers.
Can I volunteer instead?
Yes. The same page lists installation events looking for volunteers. Extra credit for helping.
Can I sign up for someone else?
Generally yes, such as an aging parent. Just make sure they agree and will be home for the visit.
Professor Ima B. Cheap
Program details and availability vary by location and change over time. Cheap101 is not affiliated with the American Red Cross. In an emergency, call 911. More handouts: Cheap101 Class Handouts · Free samples, freebies and rebates