March 19, 2020

Contact: Sherry Nicholson
Phone: 404-323-3923
Email: Sherry.Nicholson@redcross.org

Atlanta, GA – As parents and their elementary school children spend more time together at home during the Coronavirus shut down, keeping young ones occupied can be a challenge. The American Red Cross recommends Monster Guard, a fun and FREE game app that helps kids prepare for real-life emergencies, then practice and share the lessons they learn with family and friends. 

#MonsterGuard is the first mobile app created by the American Red Cross that's designed specifically for kids (ages 7-11). As they enter “Monster Guard Academy,” they’ll role play as various characters, earning points as they go through the episodes for different hazards such as home fires, tornadoes and floods.

In Monster Guard you can:

• Play through 14 fun training sessions

• Roleplay as 5 different characters in simulated training environments

• Beat your high score and earn badges

• Learn about preventing home fires and wildfires

• Prepare for emergencies like tornadoes, earthquakes,
hurricanes, and floods

• Gather supplies for your family emergency supplies kit

• Learn how to cope with stressful situations

• Watch fun animations packed with important information

“The intent is to empower children with knowledge and have them discuss what they’ve learned with family and household members,” says Kelly Sharon, Red Cross Preparedness and Partnership Manager for Georgia. “The emotional coping and preparedness skills covered in the game teach real life skills for all kinds of emergencies, even a coronavirus outbreak!”

The best user experience for playing the game is on a tablet, but it also works well on other mobile devices. Text ‘MONSTER’ to 90999 and receive a direct link to download the FREE app or go to www.redcross.org/monsterguard.

The Red Cross offers a series of award-winning apps that people have used to save lives and to help protect their pets and property People can download the apps by searching for Red Cross in their mobile app store or by going to redcross.org/apps.

About the American Red Cross:

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or cruzrojaamericana.org, or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.