“I don’t think people should take it for granted that nothing will ever happen,” Robinson said. Robinson also already had a fire-escape plan set up for her mom, but altered it after getting more advice from the professionals.

On a recent day, Robinson was at the house following the firefighters around as they pointed out fire and safety hazards, such as a rug that didn’t have anti-slip backing on it and could cause her mom to fall. “You get a false sense of ‘Oh, Dad always took care of this.’” “He was always up on the ladders, etc.,” said Robinson. Robinson’s family home had smoke detectors and a carbon monoxide detector, but that was something her late father always handled. Robinson heard about the program for free smoke detectors when she saw a television news report after a recent fire where a little boy died.

Robinson of Copley has been working on a checklist of things to try to ensure her mom can safely stay in the home she’s lived in for 56 years. The American Red Cross also works with other fire departments throughout the Akron region and nationally to ensure people’s homes are protected with smoke detectors. The city of Akron partners with the American Red Cross to provide and install free smoke detectors.

Download red cross smoke alarm program