The American Red Cross Pillowcase Project teaches students about personal and family preparedness and safety skills including home fires, and wildfires, and how to build an emergency kit.
YAKIMA, MARCH 6, 2023 — On Tuesday, March 7, the American Red Cross will deliver its Pillowcase Project educational program to approximately 90 fifth-grade students at Barge-Lincoln Elementary School. This American Red Cross program aims to bring emergency preparedness education to 3rd through 5th graders across the United States.
Over the 60-minute program, students will learn about personal and family preparedness, local hazards (including home fires and wildfires), and basic coping skills. The Pillowcase Project uses a “Learn, Practice, Share” framework to engage in disaster preparedness and survival skills. These interlocking concepts allow students to explore the science behind emergency preparedness.
Students will also learn about how emergencies are experienced in the real world, so that they will understand both the environmental causes of natural hazards and what people should do to prepare themselves, their families, and their communities for emergency situations.
WHAT: Pillowcase Project presentation for 5th grade students
WHERE: Barge-Lincoln Elementary School
WHEN: Tuesday, March 7, 2023, 9:00 a.m.- 10 a.m.
WHO: Hannah Christen, Preparedness Manager American Red Cross, Northwest Region
Upon completion, students receive a sturdy pillowcase in which to build their personal emergency supplies kit. Visit redcross.org/pillowcase to learn more.
For free home fire safety resources, including an escape plan, visit redcross.org/fire or download the free Red Cross Emergency app (search “American Red Cross” in app stores or go to redcross.org/apps). Children can also learn what to do during a home fire and other emergencies with free resources at redcross.org/YouthPrep.
MORE HOME FIRE SAFETY ACTIVITIES FOR KIDS Parents can enable the Pedro’s Fire Challenge skill on Alexa-enabled devices to have “Pedro the Penguin,” a Red Cross youth program character, guide children through engaging activities and games to earn virtual fire safety badges. The Red Cross created the skill to help children learn core home fire and preparedness skills, such as identifying smoke alarm locations, crawling under smoke in a fire and ways to cope after a fire. Learn more in this video.
HOME FIRE CAMPAIGN SAVES LIVES
Most of us don’t realize we have as little as two minutes to escape a burning home before it’s too late, according to a 2020 Red Cross survey. That’s why the Red Cross is preparing families to act quickly through its Home Fire Campaign — which has saved at least 1,500 lives across the country — since launching in October 2014. In the Northwest Region of the American Red Cross and local partners have installed more than 30,000 alarms in homes that needed them throughout Washington State and North Idaho. Visit redcross.org/NWHomeFires to learn more.
About the American Red Cross: The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides comfort to victims of disasters; supplies about 40% of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; distributes international humanitarian aid; and supports veterans, military members and their families. The Red Cross is a nonprofit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to deliver its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or CruzRojaAmericana.org, or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.