Beau Rivage partners with the Red Cross for the “Sound the Alarm” initiative

Beau Rivage employees partnered up once again with the American Red Cross for its “Sound the Alarm” smoke detector initiative.

The definite sound of a beep could be the split-second difference between life and death.

“Home fire is the number one thing that Red Cross responds to last year in the last 12 months, just in this community, the southeast chapter,” said Mary Cracchiolo Spain, the public relations official for Beau Rivage. “There was 550 fires that responded to so they say every eight minutes there’s a home fire. So it’s really important that people have good working smoke detectors.”

The American Red Cross “Sound the Alarm” initiative started in 2014 and is credited with saving over 2,000 lives across the US.

Over the past years in Biloxi – in partnership with the Beau Rivage and the Biloxi Fire Department – 400 homes have been equipped with new smoke detectors.

“There’s always an influx of homes there. A lot of people in need out there, there are a lot of people that are living below poverty level,” said Windy Samples, the disaster program manager for the Red Cross. “There are a lot of elderly people that need their smoke alarms replaced. The true fact is that smoke alarms are really only good for a matter of five to seven years and they should be replaced.”

Along with new smoke alarms, volunteers and firefighters helped people map out fire escape routes for their homes.

“It’s very nice to know that your time and energy and resources was put to good use because you’ll see an immediate impact and be notified if you’ve made a difference,” said Samples.

“Smoke detectors save people’s lives every day,” said Spain. “You have two minutes to get out should a fire occur in your home and the smoke detector is going to give you that extra time that you’re going to need.”

Should you need a new smoke detector, call the American Red Cross at 228-896-4511.