Volunteers with the American Red Cross helped five people who were affected by a home fire in Rockford in the past week. These volunteers with our Disaster Action Team provided assistance to one adult and four children with temporary emergency housing, financial assistance, health services, disaster mental health services and recovery planning.

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.  

TWO STEPS TO PREVENT FIRE TRAGEDIES To help protect your family year-round, test your smoke alarms monthly and practice your home fire escape plan until everyone can escape in less than two minutes.

Red Cross volunteers will Sound the Alarm in Illinois as part of a national effort to educate 100,000 people about home fire safety in high-risk neighborhoods this spring. Our volunteers will be offering virtual education sessions on home fire safety for residents through May 8^th. Visit SoundTheAlarm.org/Illinois to request an appointment today or volunteer for the Sound The Alarm initiative! The Red Cross always need volunteers. Virtual volunteer opportunities are available. 

If you need assistance after a home fire or disaster, please call our dispatch line: 1-877-597-0747.

Blood Donors Needed
The need for blood is constant. The Red Cross is asking for healthy blood donors to roll up a sleeve. In recent weeks, the Red Cross has experienced the lowest blood donor turnout since the COVID-19 pandemic began over a year ago.

How You Can Help  If you're healthy and feeling well, please make a blood donation appointment to ensure patient needs can be met. Please visit, redcrossblood.org today.

Volunteer Opportunities
Blood Donor Ambassadors- These volunteers welcome visitors to Red Cross facilities or blood drives and take their temperatures before entering blood drives. Visitors could include potential blood donors, people seeking help, course participates and Red Cross employees and volunteers. Start your application here.

Blood Transportation Specialist -These volunteers deliver life-saving blood products from Red Cross distribution facilities to hospitals, using a Red Cross-owned vehicle. You’ll also need to meet these important qualifications: Have a valid state driver’s license and proof of insurance, have three years driving experience and a clean driving record. Start your application here.

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.