American Red Cross volunteers with the Disaster Action Team responded to 5 home fires this past week in Winnebago and Stephenson counties. Red Cross Volunteers assisted 21 people, 14 adults and 7 children, in addition to 11 pets with temporary housing, health services, disaster mental health services, financial assistance 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 American Red Cross encourages everyone to talk to their children about fire safety to help families stay safe and prepared.
Visit redcross.org/fire for more information. Download our free Emergency app by searching for “American Red Cross” in app stores. Free resources are available to help children learn what to do during a home fire and other emergencies.
If you need assistance after a home fire or disaster, please call our dispatch line: 1-877-597-0747.
Emergencies Happen: CPR & AED Training
Sudden cardiac arrest can happen to anyone, anywhere and at any time without warning, but it usually occurs in adults. National CPR + AED Awareness Week takes place every year from June 1 through 7. During this week, we recognize the importance of initiating CPR and using an AED as a response to cardiac arrest. More than 350,000 people suffer a cardiac arrest annually, and just over 10 percent survive.
Every second counts when responding to a cardiac arrest. If you see someone suddenly collapse, call 9-1-1, send someone for the AED and begin CPR. Even if you aren’t trained, doing chest compressions (pushing hard and fast in the center of the chest) is better than doing nothing. In many cases, the 9-1-1 operator can talk you through CPR.
Every second counts in cardiac arrest. Be prepared for the moments that matter by taking a CPR class or brushing up on your skills: www.redcross.org/take-a-class/cpr
Help Save Lives this Summer: Donate Blood
Part of a safe community is a strong blood supply for hospital patients. The American Red Cross is asking you to be somebody’s hero by donating blood. Every two seconds, someone in the U.S. needs blood – it could be a next-door neighbor, your best friend or a family member. Help make sure hospitals are ready for anything and mark your calendar to help patients in need, by donating blood at the blood drive near you.
Give blood, platelets or plasma this summer to help ensure patients get the medical treatment they need. Download the Red Cross Blood Donor app, visit redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED-CROSS for more information or to schedule your donation.
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 Facebook, Instagram and Twitter @RedCrossIL.
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