Did you know you only have a maximum of two minutes to escape a home fire? In fact, home fires are the nation's most frequent disaster and devastatingly claim seven lives daily in the U.S. Thankfully, the Red Cross is equipped with the knowledge and resources to respond efficiently. With the launch of the Home Fire Campaign in 2014, the Red Cross helps prepare families to act quickly if a home fire occurs. To date, the Red Cross has documented 1,788 lives saved from the efforts of the Home Fire campaign and with the support of their partners, the Red Cross has installed more than 2.5 million free smoke alarms nationwide. Since July 1, 2022, the South Florida Red Cross has responded to more than 761 home fires, helped 3,057 individuals with various forms of assistance, installed 3,351 smoke alarms, and created 1,386 fire escape plans as part of the Red Cross Home Fire Campaign.
Cooking and heating equipment are deemed two of the leading causes of home fires. That is why it is important never to leave heating equipment like stoves unattended when cooking and to ensure they are turned off when not in use. Space heaters should also never be left unattended; when used, they should be placed on a level, hard and nonflammable surface. Fire safety is particularly significant in the prevention of home fires. You can stay safe with two simple steps: test your smoke alarms monthly and practice your escape plan until everyone in your household can get out in less than two minutes. Smoke alarms should be installed in every level of your home and children should be familiarized with the sound and what to do when they hear it. Escape plans should include at least two ways to exit every room in your house and be practiced at least twice a year.
Do you feel comfortable talking to strangers? Are you engaging, a great listener and willing to work as a part of a team? If you answered yes to any of the above, consider joining the American Red Cross as a volunteer. Two opportunities that will enhance your people-facing skills are volunteering as a Home Fire Campaign (HFC) team member or a Disaster Action Team (DAT) member.
As a Red Cross caseworker, most cases I assist with pertain to a residential fire. The number one cause of home fires is due to unattended cooking, where more than 70% of people have left the kitchen momentarily. In one of my recent cases, a single-family home was destroyed because the homeowner left their electric stovetop on low to entertain guests on the patio.
What saved this resident and their guests from potential injuries, such as burns or smoke inhalation, were the free smoke alarms installed by the Red Cross during a smoke alarm installation event.
The lesson to learn from this is to keep an eye on what you’re cooking and never leave the kitchen until all your heating appliances are turned off.
On Tuesday, February 28, the Broward Chapter of the American Red Cross and the North Broward Chapter of The Links, Incorporated co-hosted a book reading with Marita Golden, author of The Strong Black Woman: How a Myth Endangers the Physical and Mental Health of Black Women. The virtual event was attended by staff and volunteers of both organizations and moderated by Judge Stefanie Moon, the Red Cross Broward Chapter Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Committee Chair and North Broward County Chapter of The Links, Incorporated, Legislative Issues, Public Affairs and Disaster Relief Committee Chair.
During the virtual reading, Marita Golden, an award-winning author of 17 works of fiction and non-fiction, shared three passages from her book and helped to unravel the myth of the strong Black woman in front of an audience of women leaders. Marita’s book is intended for anyone wanting to learn more about self-care, healing and the pressures that modern women endure by simply existing in today’s culture.
Asked to elaborate on the myth of the strong Black woman, Marita shared her belief that it stems from a maladaptation adopted by Black women who were stripped of their freedoms and dignity. In response, Black women developed an armor of strength and resilience to survive in a world conditioned to limit their power and potential. Marita added that the current generation of Black women has evolved to understand the harm caused by this maladaptation and must learn vulnerability to reject this ideology and prosper as complex and multi-dimensional humans.
As soon as the immediate danger of Hurricane Ian passed, the American Red Cross mobilized to bring relief to Punta Gorda and other hard-hit areas of Florida. In the close-knit community of Punta Gorda, the Red Cross partnered with St. Mary's Church and the Charlotte County Branch of the NAACP to provide relief and support to the hurricane victims.
Established in 1901, St. Mary's Church is the center of the local relief efforts. “We just want to bring in supplies to meet the needs of this community,” said Charlotte County NAACP President Dr. Darrell Gadsen. An extremely pleased community after seeing a line of Red Cross emergency response vehicles in front of the church.
After crossing Cuba and the Florida Keys, Hurricane Ian swept northeast over the barrier island of Cayo Costa, funneled a wall of wind and water into Charlotte Harbor and slammed into Punta Gorda and Southwest Florida with a Category 4 knock-out punch. Torrential rain and relentless wind did their damage. When the slow-moving storm finally passed, it left devastating flooding and damaged buildings in its wake, along with many Charlotte County residents who were suddenly homeless or without electricity.
Established as a town in 1884, the name Punta Gorda is loosely translated from Spanish as “fat tip.” Today, Punta Gorda is a city of roughly 13,000 residents, many of whom are retirees and own their homes.
Residents like Cemmie Anthony, who has called Punta Gorda home for the past eighty-five years. This sweet senior citizen remembers the last time that her city was a target for a major storm. “As we went through it, we were blessed by people being there for us,” said Anthony. “Certainly, I would like to go back and think, it was God who brought us through it.” The year was 2004 when Hurricane Charley struck her town and caused severe damage.
When you listen to Cemmie recount her experiences of 2004 and 2022 the trait that you immediately notice is her positive energy and feelings of gratitude. She is very appreciative of the help that she has received from the Red Cross and its volunteers, “You have to have heart and that's the Red Cross caring for people, said Anthony.” Cemmie described the hygiene supplies, water, food and shelter and that “people were there for us.” She said that, “We lost a lot, but we know that God will give it back to us… we just have to be patient and appreciative.”
American Red Cross history has many examples of dedicated African Americans who made significant contributions to their fields, communities, and to the organization. During Black History Month, we look back on this legacy of service from those who blazed a trail for all those who followed.
Frederick Douglass, the prominent abolitionist, and activist provided advice and support to his friend, Clara Barton, as she tried to get the organization established in the U.S. He would eventually sign the Articles of Incorporation for the American Red Cross in his capacity as Register of Deeds for the District of Columbia.
In the medical field, Dr. Charles Drew was a pioneer in developing a national blood bank and was appointed director of the first Red Cross blood bank in 1941. Dr. Jerome Holland helped to advance blood research and was also the first African American appointed as chairman of the Red Cross Board of Governors. Frances Reed Elliott Davis brought her passion for nursing to the Red Cross, becoming its first African American nurse.
Mary McLeod Bethune was passionate about education and dedicated her life to the education and betterment of African Americans, eventually co-founding Bethune-Cookman College (now University) in Daytona Beach, Fla. As an advisor to President Franklin D. Roosevelt, she was also integral in discussing and increasing African American representation within the Red Cross