Volunteer disaster responders with the American Red Cross of Chicago and Northern Illinois responded to 19 fires from June 8 to today, including an incident at a 3-story apartment building in Chicago. Our volunteers also assisted families affected by home fires in Sterling, Naperville, Lockport, Rockford, Harvey, and Sycamore, with 10 of these fires taking place in Chicago.
Since this coronavirus pandemic, Red Cross volunteers have been responding virtually to fires whenever possible. In this past week alone, the American Red Cross helped 63 individuals, including 43 adults and 20 children with temporary housing, health and mental health services, comfort kits, blankets and information about recovery services.
In Chicago and Northern Illinois, the Red Cross responds to 3 to 4 home fires every day. If you need assistance, please call our dispatch Line: 1-877-597-0747. You can take two easy steps to protect your home and loved ones from a fire: get a smoke alarm and create a fire escape plan. Having a working smoke alarm cuts the risk of dying in a home fire in half.
Red Cross Offers Virtual Care for Families Who Have Lost Loved Ones due to COVID-19
This is a difficult time for everyone, but especially those who have lost a loved one due to COVID-19. To help, the Red Cross has set up a Virtual Family Assistance Center with a team of specially trained mental health, spiritual care, and health services volunteers ready to provide emotional support and information about resources available. If you or someone you know needs to talk to someone, call us toll-free at 1-833-492-0094 or visit redcross.org/VFAC.
State-of-the-art Chicago Blood Donation Fixed Site Opens
To better serve the Chicago community, the American Red Cross opened a new, state-of-the-art blood donation site on Monday, June 15th. Blood and platelets will be collected at the new Chicago Blood Donation Site, located inside the Chicago Red Cross Rauner Center at 2200 W. Harrison Street in Chicago.
The new donation site offers a permanent location for donors to give blood and platelets locally and offer additional donation opportunities, while providing lifesaving blood products to the community. This is the first stand-alone Red Cross location for the collection of platelets in the Chicagoland area. Platelets play a critical role in the treatment of millions of people fighting cancer and other chronic diseases, as well as those recovering from traumatic injuries.
Red Cross in Urgent Need for Blood Donations
The American Red Cross continues to be in urgent need for blood donations to prevent another blood shortage. In recent weeks, the demand for blood product has increased as hospitals resume non-urgent and elective procedures during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Healthy individuals who are feeling well are asked to make an appointment to donate in the weeks and months ahead by downloading the free Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org, calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or enabling the Blood Donor Skill on any Alexa Echo device.
Blood Drive Safety Measures
It’s important to emphasize that each Red Cross blood drive and donation center follows the highest standards of safety and infection control, and additional precautions – including temperature checks, social distancing and face coverings for donors and staff – have been implemented to ensure the health of all those in attendance. Donors are asked to schedule an appointment prior to arriving at the drive and are required to wear a face covering or mask while at the drive, in alignment with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention public guidance.
All those who give through June 30 will receive a $5 Amazon.com Gift Card via email.
About the American Red Cross of Chicago & Northern Illinois:
The American Red Cross of Chicago & Northern Illinois serves 9.5 million people in 21 counties including Boone, Bureau, Carroll, Cook, DeKalb, DuPage, Grundy, Kane, Kankakee, Kendall, Jo Daviess, LaSalle, Lake, Lee, McHenry, Ogle, Putnam, Stephenson, Whiteside, Will and Winnebago. 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/IL/chicago or visit us on Twitter @ChicagoRedCross.