New Tips And Triks For You

PANAMA CITY - The American Red Cross volunteers will spend Martin Luther King Jr. Day, which falls on Jan. 20 this year, canvassing neighborhoods in the Glenwood and Cedar Grove areas to share fire safety tips with residents.

Where residents are not available to speak with, volunteers will leave door hangers printed in English and Spanish with cooking and heating tips and information about the importance of smoke alarms and fire escape plans.

"Fire is the biggest disaster threat to American families - not floods, hurricanes, or tornadoes," said Jerry Kindle, CEO of The American Red Cross of Northwest Florida, in a press release, "And home fires are one disaster that can usually be prevented when people understand how to protect their homes and families."

Nationally, the Red Cross provides food and shelter to people affected by as many as 70,000 fires annually, or about one fire every eight minutes. The Central Panhandle Chapter responded to 86 fires in Bay, Calhoun, Gulf, Holmes, Jackson and Washington counties between July 2012 and July 2013 and another 68 fires since July 2013, 29 of which were in Bay County.

The Red Cross is looking for more volunteers to participate in this event. Those interested in volunteering should contact 763-6587 for more information.

The American Red Cross offers the following fire prevention tips:

All heaters need space. Keep all things that can burn (paper, matches, bedding, furniture, clothing, carpets, and rugs) at least three feet away from heating equipment.