The American Red Cross assisted 12 families/46 people, who were among those affected by 4 separate fires in South Carolina in the past 24 hours. Tragically, a number of people died and others were injured as a result of these fires. Red Cross is assisting with temporary lodging, food, clothing, health and mental health services. Red Cross is also providing referrals to partner agencies for their long-term recovery as well as providing hygiene items. Because of trained disaster volunteers and financial assistance from the community, Red Cross was able to help more than 7118 people affected by disasters in South Carolina last year. On average, the American Red Cross, Palmetto SC Region, which serves the state of South Carolina, responds to a disaster every 4 hours. The American Red Cross needs additional volunteers who are willing to become trained to respond to fires and other disasters in the community. Those interested can go to redcross.org or call their local Red Cross office for more information. People can help victims of fires and other disasters, by becoming a disaster-trained volunteer or by making a financial contribution. To contact the closest Red Cross office to you, visit redcross.org/sc/columbia/palmetto-region/locations Fire Safety Tips: · Never use a stove or oven to heat the home. · If using a space heater, place it on a level, hard surface and keep anything flammable at least three feet away – things such as paper, clothing, bedding, curtains or rugs. Turn off space heaters and make sure fireplace embers are out before leaving the room or going to bed. · If using a fireplace, use a glass or metal fire screen large enough to catch sparks and rolling logs. · Use generators correctly – never operate a generator inside the home, including in the basement or garage. · Don’t hook a generator up to the home’s wiring. The safest thing to do is to connect the equipment someone wants to power directly to the outlets on the generator. · Check your Smoke Alarms. COLD WEATHER SAFETY TIPS Wear layers of lightweight clothing to stay warm. Gloves and a hat will help prevent losing body heat. · Someone should seek medical attention immediately if they have symptoms of hypothermia, including confusion, dizziness, exhaustion and severe shivering. · Watch for symptoms of frostbite, including numbness, flushed gray, white, blue or yellow skin discoloration, numbness, or waxy feeling skin. · Don’t forget family pets – bring them indoors. If they can’t come inside, make sure they have enough shelter to keep them warm and that they can get to unfrozen water. · Avoid frozen pipes - run water, even at a trickle, to help prevent them from freezing. Open the kitchen and bathroom cabinet doors to allow warmer air to circulate around the plumbing. Be sure to move any harmful cleaners and household chemicals out of the reach of children. Keep the garage doors closed if there are water lines in the garage. · Keep the thermostat at the same temperature day and night to help avoid freezing pipes. · Download the Red Cross First Aid App for quick, expert advice on what to do in case of an emergency. This free app is available on the Apple iTunes or Google Play stores. About the American Red Cross: The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies nearly half of the nations blood; teaches lifesaving skills; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a charitable organization — not a government agency — and depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit Redcross.org or visit us on Twitter at @Redcross Louise Welch Williams Regional Chief Executive Officer American Red Cross Palmetto South Carolina Region [email protected]
Posted on: Sun, 21 Dec 2014 00:15:57 +0000
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