The Greensburg Fire Department, American Red Cross, Decatur County United Fund, and Greensburg Rotary Club 3437 collaborated on 7/25/24 to complete the third “Sound the Alarm, Save a Life” project.
Brian Wenning, Assistant Fire Chief of the Greensburg Fire Department, led the training session for eight firefighters and eight Rotary Club members. The main goal for the day was to install smoke detectors in the Vista Village and Highland Addition neighborhoods. Wenning noted that this marks the third collaboration with these organizations to ensure residents have functioning smoke detectors.
Joanne Cunningham, Executive Director of the Decatur County United Fund, highlighted the organization’s role in funding the project. She emphasized that the United Fund focuses on providing various forms of assistance to Decatur County residents, including fire safety initiatives.
The Greensburg Fire Department staff partnered with Rotary Club members to install smoke detectors and provide fire safety guidance. During the American Red Cross training, a critical statistic was shared: “Smoke detectors cut the risk of dying in a house fire by 50%.” Another important fact is that in a house fire, residents may have less than two minutes to escape.
Last Friday, Brian Wenning and his team visited 190 homes, placing door hangers to inform residents about the upcoming smoke detector installations. Wenning also mentioned their capability to order and install assistive technology for residents with disabilities, including four bed shakers. These devices, which connect to smoke detectors via Bluetooth, shake the bed when the smoke detector sounds, providing crucial assistance for those with hearing loss or deafness.
The commitment of the involved organizations was evident during the training session, where a volunteer shared a story about an installed smoke detector that alerted a family to a fire, potentially saving their lives. The Greensburg Rotary Club members displayed their dedication to their motto, “Service above self,” expressing excitement about the project and the opportunity to connect with residents.
Emphasis was placed on the importance of families having and practicing home evacuation plans. Wenning stressed that once out of a burning structure, residents should never re-enter.
The team successfully installed 64 smoke detectors and made 109 connections with residents.
Residents in need of a smoke detector can contact the Greensburg Fire Department at 812-663-8671 for a no-cost installation service in partnership with the American Red Cross. The Fire Department now exclusively installs smoke detectors for residents instead of providing them for self-installation.
For more information on this project or the American Red Cross, visit their website at Sound The Alarm – Save a Life.
