Volunteers with the Red Cross Disaster Action Team responded to three home fires in Bettendorf, Kewanee and Silvis from March 8 through today.
Red Cross volunteers provided financial assistance, health services, and recovery planning to 11 individuals, including 10 adults and one child.
A fire can take a home in as little as two minutes. Therefore, escaping in less than two minutes can be the difference between survival and tragedy. The Red Cross encourages everyone to talk to their children about fire safety to help families stay safe. We want to ensure families and children are prepared.
It’s Time to Test Your Smoke Alarms
Did you remember to test your smoke alarms when you moved your clocks forward? If you haven’t, below are steps to take when testing your alarms:
-Install smoke alarms on every level of your home, including inside and outside bedrooms and sleeping areas. Test alarms monthly and replace the batteries at least once a year if your model requires it.
-Replace smoke alarms that are 10 years or older. That’s because the sensor becomes less sensitive over time. Check the date of your smoke alarms and follow the instructions.
-Practice your two-minute escape plan. Make sure everyone in your household can get out in less than two minutes – the amount of time you may have to escape a burning home before it’s too late. Include at least two ways to get out of every room and select a meeting spot at a safe distance away from your home, such as your neighbor’s home or landmark like a specific tree in your front yard, where everyone can meet.
For free home fire safety resources, including an escape plan, visit redcross.org/fire or download the free Red Cross Emergency App. In addition, the free Monster Guard app teaches children how to prepare for emergencies by playing an engaging game. Download the apps by searching “American Red Cross” in app stores or going to redcross.org/apps.
If you need assistance after a home fire or disaster, please call our dispatch line: 1-844-319-6560.
Red Cross Volunteer Recruitment Open House Series
We are actively in need of Blood Donor Ambassadors and Blood Transportation Specialists, Virtual DAT Team members and Duty Officers/Dispatchers, and Disaster Caseworkers, and Volunteer Recruitment Team Members.
All sessions will be held on the third Thursday of the month, from 5:30 p.m. -6:30 p.m. on March 18, April 15, May 20, June 17. Register for an open house here: tinyurl.com/RC-Illinois
Hear an overview of the Red Cross Mission, our lines of service, the Illinois Region, and give more information about the positions we are actively recruiting for at the time. Explain how to sign up/apply, then open it up for Q&A.
Please visit redcross.org to find out more about volunteer opportunities.
About the American Red Cross of Illinois
The American Red Cross of Illinois serves 12.4 million people in 88 counties in Illinois, Iowa and Missouri including Adams, Bond, Boone, Brown, Bureau, Carroll, Cass, Champaign, Christian, Clark, Clay, Clinton, Cook, Coles, Crawford, Cumberland, DeKalb, De Witt, Douglas, DuPage, Edgar, Effingham, Fayette, Ford, Franklin, Fulton, Green, Grundy, Hamilton, Hancock, Henderson, Henry, Iroquois, Jasper, Jefferson, Kane, Kankakee, Kendall, Knox, LaSalle, Lake, Lee, Livingston, Logan, Macon, Macoupin, Marion, Marshall, Mason, McDonough, McHenry, McLean, Menard, Mercer, Montgomery, Morgan, Moultrie, Ogle, Peoria, Perry, Piatt, Pike, Putnam, Richland, Rock Island, Sangamon, Schuyler, Scott, Shelby, Stark, Stephenson, Tazewell, Vermillion, Warren, Washington, Whiteside, Will, Williamson Winnebago, Woodford. Iowa: Lee, Muscatine, Scott and Van Buren. Missouri: Clark, Lewis, Marion and Ralls. 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 us at Redcross.org/Illinois or visit us on Twitter @RedCrossIL.