Smoke Alarms Provided to Elderly/Disabled in Texas

May 16, 2013

Smoke alarms are on the way for clients who are provided services by H.A.N.D. and Faith in Action Caregivers in Austin, Texas. The donations are courtesy of the Austin Fire Department and the Insurance Council of Texas.

Austin Fire Battalion Chief David Girouard said the program simply enhances the fire safety efforts the Austin Fire Department has been conducting for years. “We welcome these new partners in bringing attention to the use of life saving smoke alarms that can be the difference between life or death when a house catches fire,” said Girouard.

State Fire Marshal Director Mark Lockerman was on hand to announce the start of the program.

“Austin makes the 25th city that the We’re Out to Alarm program has brought smoke alarms to those in need,” said Lockerman. “The program has saved lives and property and I am here to encourage everyone to have a working smoke alarm in their home.”

Austin firefighters installed the first donated smoke alarm in the home of 80 year old Lucille Otems. Otems is one of approximately 60 H.A.N.D. clients who will receive new smoke alarms. H.A.N.D. assists individuals who need assistance with daily tasks to remain in their own home. These individuals rely on H.A.N.D. to help with their daily care, household chores, financial obligations and most recently transportation.

Otems calls herself “a Lone Ranger” because she has no other family and relies on the assistance provided by H.A.N.D. “Home means everything to me,” said Ms. Otems.

H.A.N.D. and Faith in Action Caregivers were chosen because the majority of their clients are low income and elderly. Austin firefighters will install the smoke alarms and also check each home for possible fire hazards.

Jerry Achilles with the Achilles Insurance Agency in Austin and representing Travelers Insurance, which has donated every year to the smoke alarm fund, said he supports any program that saves lives and property.

“Smoke alarms are like insurance,” said Achilles. “If you have it, you can sleep better at night knowing you are covered.”

The Insurance Council of Texas started the We’re Out to Alarm Texas program in 2005 and with the assistance of firefighters, First Alert smoke detectors have been placed in the homes of low income and seniors in cities across the state. The Insurance Council of Texas had donations to its program this year from Travelers, State Farm, AFACT and First Alert. Donated smoke alarms saved the lives of homeowners in New Braunfels and Waco in the first year of the program.

“This year we will have distributed approximately 10,000 smoke alarms to cities in every corner of the state,” said Mark Hanna, a spokesman for the Insurance Council of Texas. “If we can say we have saved just one life, it has all been worth it.”

The Insurance Council of Texas

Topics Texas

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