‘Silent Disasters’ take tolls on Local Chapters
Often unknown to the public, dozens of local families have suffered this year
in “silent” disasters – often resulting in economic strain for local chapters
of the American Red Cross.
Although these disasters are anything but silent to the people in the community affected, the lack of media coverage produced from their effects, many go unnoticed by outsiders.
The effects of the home fires are staggering:
·
83% of all
civilian fire deaths occur in residences
·
Cooking is the
leading cause of home fires resulting in injuries
·
About 16,000
people are injured each year as the result of residential fires
·
The
According to a recent poll by the American Red Cross, four
out of five Americans are unaware that home fires are the most common disaster
in the
Are you Red Cross Ready?
Since fires kill more Americans each year than all natural
disasters combined, the Red Cross urges families to use Red Cross resources to
take steps toward fire prevention and safety.
Last year, the Red Cross responded to some 67,000 fires by
providing victims with emergency assistance for food, shelter, clothing,
prescription medications, and other critical aid. While the relief agency
has a 126-year old history of responding to the needs of disaster victims, home
fires are taking a severe toll on the local Red Cross relief fund.
Exacerbating the problem is the fact that many people think
the Red Cross is a government agency, with government funding. This is not
the case. In fact, the Red Cross relies on donations from the general
public to fund their disaster response and other vital services, such as CPR
and First Aid training.
Red Cross is calling on friends in the community to show their support by making a special donation to help replenish the local Red Cross relief fund.
To send a contribution and help victims of home fires and other disasters in our community, please call our office at 815-756-7339