Volunteer disaster responders with the American Red Cross of Chicago & Northern Illinois responded to 26 fires from Monday, October 21 through today in the Chicago & Northern Illinois area including fires in Aurora, Coal City, Dolton, Fox River Grove, Round Lake Heights, Wheeling and more, with 17 of these fires taking place in Chicago.

The American Red Cross helped 97 individuals, including 68 adults and 29 children. Our volunteers provided assistance with temporary housing, food, clothing and comfort kits with toiletry items, information about recovery services and health and mental health services. 

The American Red Cross responds to 3 to 4 home fires every day in Northern Illinois. The Red Cross recommends two easy steps to help protect your home and loved ones from a fire: get a smoke alarm and create a fire escape plan. The Red Cross installs FREE smoke alarms year-round. To schedule an appointment to get a free installation in your home, visit www.getasmokealarm.org.

This past Saturday, volunteers with the Red Cross, members of the North Park Fire Department and the Riverside Community Church installed 165 free smoke alarms in 52 homes in the Machesney Park area.  Meanwhile, the Naperville Fire Department and the Rotary Club helped the Red Cross installed 33 smoke alarms in 22 homes of that suburb.

Next Saturday November 2, Red Cross volunteers will depart from the Chicago Red Cross headquarters located on 2200 W. Harrison Street to install smoke alarms in the city. Make your appointment today! For more Red Cross fire safety and preparedness information visit www.redcross.org/prepare.  

Also, Halloween is just a few days away and many children will be out in neighborhoods trick or treating. Here are a few tips that parents can follow to keep the kids safe while having fun in their favorite costumes!

·  Trick-or-treaters need to see and be seen

    o  Use face makeup instead of masks which make seeing  difficult.

    o  Give trick-or-treaters a flashlight to light their way.

    o  Add reflective tape to costumes and trick-or-treat bags.

    o  Have everyone wear light-colored clothing.

·  Use flame-resistant costumes.

·  Make sure adults know where the kids are going. A parent or    responsible adult should accompany young children door- to-door.

·  Be cautious around animals, especially dogs.

·  Walk, don’t run.

·  Only visit homes that have a porch light on. Accept treats at the door–never go inside.

·  Walk only on the sidewalks, not in the street.

    o  If no sidewalk is available, walk at the edge of the roadway,   facing traffic.

    o  Look both ways before crossing the street, and cross only at the corner.

    o  Don’t cut across yards or use alleys.

    o  Don’t cross between parked cars.

    o  Drivers – use extra caution. The youngsters may forget to  look both ways before crossing.

·   A grown-up should check the goodies before eating.

    o  Make sure to remove loose candy, open packages and choking hazards.
    o  Discard any items with brand names that you are not familiar with.

If you are planning to welcome trick-or-treaters to your home, follow these safety tips:

    o  Light the area well so your visitors can see.

    o  Sweep leaves from your sidewalks and steps. Clear your  porch or front yard of obstacles someone could trip over.

Download the free Red Cross First Aid App for instant access to expert first aid advice at your fingertips. Use the free Emergency for weather alerts and to let others know you are safe if sever weather occurs. Find these and all of the Red Cross apps in smartphone app stores by searching for the American Red Cross or going to redcross.org/apps.

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.