MOORESVILLE, N.C.--For the first time, Lowe's, Kidde, American Red Cross, Home Safety Council and Nick Jr. Family Magazine have teamed up with a call to action for all Americans to pledge to improve home safety. This new public service campaign, called Pledge to Prepare, will help educate families about specific actions they can take to be ready for fires and other home emergencies. In 2004, campaign efforts will focus on communicating the importance of fire safety.

Beginning April 1, people of all ages can take the Pledge to Prepare by visiting any of Lowe's 950 stores across the country or by going online to www.pledgetoprepare.com. By signing the pledge, people agree to have a family dialogue about safety and take several steps to make their homes safer, including:

• Make a home fire escape plan and practice it several times a year
  
• Install smoke alarms and test batteries monthly
  
• Build a disaster supplies kit that includes first aid items, food, water, flashlights, batteries, medications and personal items
  
• Learn about preventing injuries and attend safety clinics or first aid classes
  
• Share home safety knowledge with others

Fire safety experts say that a working smoke alarm cuts the chances of dying from a home fire nearly in half. Yet, only 20 percent of Americans maintain their smoke alarms properly.

"Fires affect everyone--young and old, rich and poor. Advanced planning, preparation and practice are the only means to ensuring a safer outcome," said Meri-K Appy, president of Home Safety Council. "Through Pledge to Prepare we hope to encourage everyone to take action to protect their families and homes from a fire tragedy."

Nick Jr. Family Magazine will also be communicating this important safety message to children and their parents in the coming months.

"Pledge to Prepare has brought together a dream team of organizations committed to educating families about home safety," said Larry Stone, chairman of the Lowe's Charitable and Educational Foundation. "For the first time in our company's history, Lowe's is joining forces with four other prominent organizations--Kidde, American Red Cross, Home Safety Council and Nick Jr. Family Magazine--to take a joint stance on the importance and seriousness of home safety preparation."

In addition to the public service campaign, Lowe's is continuing its financial support of American Red Cross with a month-long national, customer in-store and online store fundraising program. During the month of April, customers can make a gift to their local American Red Cross chapter at the Lowe's store's cash register or online at pledgetoprepare.com. Funds raised through this effort will support the lifesaving programs and services of the American Red Cross in communities across the country. Lowe's and Kidde--a leading global manufacturer of fire safety products--will match up to $100,000 of the customer donations for the American National Red Cross.

For more information, to take the pledge or to make a donation, visit pledgetoprepare.com.

Pledge to Prepare Partners
Lowe's is a proud supporter of Habitat for Humanity International, American Red Cross, United Way of America, and the Home Safety Council, in addition to numerous non-profit organizations and programs that help communities across the country. For more information, visit www.Lowes.com/community.

Since 1917, Kidde has earned a trusted reputation as the world's largest manufacturer of fire safety products whose mission is to provide safety solutions that protect people and property from the effects of fire and its related hazards. For more information, visit www.kiddeus.com.

The American Red Cross is dedicated to helping make families and communities safer at home and around the world. Governed by volunteers and supported by community donations, the American Red Cross is a nationwide network of nearly 900 chapters and Blood Services regions dedicated to saving lives and helping people prevent, prepare for and respond to emergencies. For more information, visit www.redcross.org.

The Home Safety Council is an independent, non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to preventing unintentional injuries in the home. Through national programs and partners across America, the Home Safety Council works to educate and empower families to take actions that help keep them safe in and around their homes. For more information, visit www.homesafetycouncil.org.

Nick Jr. Family Magazine, celebrating its fifth year this fall, is the fastest growing magazine in the Parenting category. Published nine times a year, Nick Jr. Family Magazine builds on the strength of the Nick Jr. brand to provide today's busy parents of kids age 0-11 with the latest information on child development, news and family products; and the simplest creative activities and ideas for spending time as a family. For more information, visit www.nickjr.com.

Lowe's Companies, Inc.

Lowe's Companies, Inc.

Lowe's (NYSE: LOW) is a proud supporter of Habitat for Humanity International, American Red Cross, United Way of America, and the Home Safety Council, in addition to numerous non-profit organizations and programs that help communities across the country. Lowe's Charitable and Educational Foundation awards more than $3 million annually to diverse organizations across the United States. Lowe's also encourages volunteerism through the Lowe's Heroes program, a company-wide employee volunteer program aimed at preventing unintentional home injuries. Lowe's, a FORTUNE(R) 50 company with fiscal year 2003 sales of $30.8 billion, has more than 1,050 stores in 46 states.

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