Up and Coming Weekly is a weekly publication in Fayetteville, NC and Fort Bragg, NC area offering local news, views, arts, entertainment and community event and business information.
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WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM 26 UCW MAY 18 - 24, 2022 Sound the alarm for fire safety in Hope Mills by CINDY WHITT Local firefighters will be making the rounds in Hope Mills neighborhoods on Saturday, May 21, but not to fight fires. ey want to teach residents about fire safety and the importance of having a working smoke alarm in their homes. e American Red Cross Sandhills Chapter partnered with the Hope Mills Fire Department, Town of Hope Mills, United Way of Cumberland County and Cape Fear CERT for Sound the Alarm, a national initiative to install 50,000 free smoke alarms with partners in more than 50 at-risk areas during the month of May. Hope Mills was chosen because they have had an increase in home fires. Volunteers placed door hangers on homes earlier in the month to let residents know about the event. Since launching in 2014, the pro- gram has helped save 34 lives in east- ern North Carolina by installing more than 31,600 free smoke alarms making more than 13,000 homes safer. According to the Red Cross, every day in the United States seven people die in home fires, and many occur in homes without smoke alarms. Children, the elderly and people in low-income communities are the most vulnerable during house fires and they are the most likely to live in homes without smoke alarms. "Smoke alarms save lives," said Phil Harris, executive director of the American Red Cross Sandhills Chap- ter. "e chance of survival is greater when you have a working smoke alarm." In fact, the Red Cross says a working smoke alarm can double a person's chance of survival of a residential fire. Firefighters and volunteers will be visiting homes in Hope Mills from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. the day of the event. e visit lasts about 20 minutes and includes installation of a smoke alarm (or changing the batteries in an exist- ing one) and tips for fire prevention and preparedness. "We sit down with homeowners or tenants and children to make sure they have two ways out of the house, (and ask) 'do you know to crawl under the smoke?'" he said. "ere are a lot of tips and things that we share during the visit, in addition to either checking working smoke alarms, changing batteries or providing new alarms." Smoke alarms have a life span of 10 years, so residents who receive one during this event will be added to a list to receive a replacement when the unit expires. e American Red Cross Sandhills Chap- ter and Hope Mills Fire Department work together year-round to help victims of fires and other emergencies. ey are eager to meet the community to teach pre- vention and preparedness so residents can stay safe and will not need their services in the future. Community volunteers can sign up to help install smoke alarms or be on hand to share fire safety information. No experience is required. e Red Cross will provide training the morn- ing of the event. Residents can learn more at SoundeAlarm.com/enc, sign up to volunteer or schedule an appointment for a free installation the day of the event. e American Red Cross and community partners to installed free smoke alarms during a Sound the Alarm event in Robeson County on January 22, 2020. (Photo by Steve Pippenger, American Red Cross) CINDY WHITT, Staff Writer. COM- MENTS? Editor@upandcomingweek- ly.com. 910-484-6200 EVENT I love it. I wish I had done it earlier." " At 40, Eva Pi of Fayetteville was unhappy with the body motherhood had given her – so she received a mommy makeover from Leif Nordberg, MD. Dr. Nordberg performed a tummy tuck, lifted her breasts, and finished with some liposuction. After surgery, she's thrilled with the results. 1841 Quiet Cove, Fayetteville | ( 910 ) 323-2626 www.cfvplasticsurgery.com Mommy Makeovers and more Leif Nordberg, MD Cape Fear Valley Plastic Surgery offers surgical and non-surgical procedures to help you look as youthful on the outside as you feel on the inside. free entrance for more info: www.mauraartphotography.com THE EXHIBITION 10 WOMEN | 10 PORTR AITS |10 STORIES THE SWEET P ALETTE | 101 PERSON ST , F AYETTEVILLE , NC FROM MAY 15TH An exhibition aimed to appreciate the uniqueness and diversity around us. To see the courage in exposing our own vulnerabilities and sharing our inner pilgrimage. To inspire others and make them feel they are not alone. To see that, no matter how we look, we are MORE THAN A BODY