Volunteers with the American Red Cross helped 70 people affected by 32 home fires across Chicagoland from April 26 through today. Our volunteers assisted families impacted by these incidents in Ford Heights, Joliet, Marengo, Naperville, Riverdale, Streator and more, with 17 of these home fires taking place in Chicago.

Since early this morning, our volunteers have been assisting eight families impacted by a fire in a multi-unit apartment building in University Park. So far, Red Cross volunteers have helped seven adults and eight children.

In the past week, Red Cross volunteers have helped a total of 45 adults and 25 children with temporary housing, health services, disaster mental health services, financial assistance and information about resources to help them in their recovery.

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.  

Sound the Alarm: Virtual Home Fire Safety Education Session
Red Cross volunteers continue to 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 are offering virtual education sessions on home fire safety for residents through May 8^th. Visit SoundTheAlarm.org/Illinois to request an appointment today or to sign up to volunteer for the Sound the Alarm initiative! 

HOW TO KEEP YOUR FAMILY SAFE Help protect your family against home fires by taking two simple steps:  test your smoke alarms monthly and practice your home fire escape plan until everyone can escape in less than two minutes. 

• Create an escape plan with at least two ways to exit every room in your home. 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 knows to meet.
• Place smoke alarms on each level of your home, including inside and outside bedrooms and sleeping areas. Change the batteries at least once a year if your model requires it
• .Check the manufacturer’s date of your smoke alarms. If they’re 10 years older, they likely need to be replaced. Follow your alarm’s manufacturer instructions.

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

The Need for Blood is Constant
Though the need for blood and platelets doesn’t let up, donations often decline at this time of year as donors become busy with outdoor activities, schools dismiss for summer and vacations are planned. If you are healthy and feeling well, we encourage you to schedule an appointment to donate blood by visiting redcrossblood.org.

You can also help through volunteering, please visit redcross.org/volunteer to find available opportunities, including virtual positions and the most needed ones listed below:

• Blood Donor Ambassador – These volunteers welcome visitors to the Red Cross facilities or blood drives and take their temperatures before they enter. Visitors could include potential blood donors, people seeking help, course participants and Red Cross employees and volunteers. Start your application here.   
• Blood Transportation Specialist – These volunteers deliver lifesaving 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.
  
  

Access Blood donation b-roll 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.