Volunteers disaster responders with the American Red Cross of Chicago and Northern Illinois responded to 27 fires from Monday, July 1 until today in Maywood, Aurora, Hazel Crest, Harvey, Crystal Lake, Riverdale, Sterling and Chicago, where 15 of those incidents took place.
In addition, volunteers assisted five families affected by flooding in Steger, Park Forest and Richton Park.
The Red Cross provided comfort to 194 individuals, including 149 adults and 45 children. Our volunteers offered immediate assistance with temporary housing, food, clothing, comfort kits with toiletry items, financial assistance, information about recovery services and health and mental health services.
Also, the Red Cross wants to make sure that people stay safe during the summer when temperatures can rise to dangerous levels. Here are some recommendations:
Heat Safety Tips
· Hot cars can be deadly. Never leave children or pets in your vehicle. The inside temperature of the car can quickly reach 120 degrees.
· Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of fluids. Avoid drinks with caffeine or alcohol.
· Check on family, friends and neighbors who do not have air conditioning, who spend much of their time alone or who are more likely to be affected by the heat.
· If someone doesn’t have air conditioning, they should seek relief from the heat during the warmest part of the day in places like schools, libraries, theaters, malls, etc.
· Avoid extreme temperature changes.
· Wear loose-fitting, lightweight, light-colored clothing. Avoid dark colors because they absorb the sun’s rays.
· Slow down, stay indoors and avoid strenuous exercise during the hottest part of the day.
· Postpone outdoor games and activities.
· Use a buddy system when working in excessive heat. Take frequent breaks if working outdoors.
· Check on animals frequently to ensure that they are not suffering from the heat. Make sure they have plenty of cool water.
LEARN MORE
The Red Cross has several resources for people to learn how to treat heat emergencies including online and in-person training courses (www.redcross.org/takeaclass), a free First Aid App and Pet First Aid App (www.redcross.org/Apps) and a First Aid Skill for Amazon Alexa-enabled devices.
HOW YOU CAN HELP You can help people affected by disasters like storms and countless other crises by making a gift to American Red Cross Disaster Relief. Your gift enables the Red Cross to prepare for, respond to and help people recover from disasters big and small. Call, click, or text to give: visit redcross.org, call 1-800 RED CROSS or text the word REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation. To donate by check or to a specific cause, please complete this donation form by printing and mailing to your local Red Cross chapter.
About the American Red Cross of Chicago & Northern Illinois:
The American Red Cross of Chicago & Northern Illinois serves 9.5 million people in 21 counties including Boone, Bureau, Carroll, Cook, DeKalb, DuPage, Grundy, Kane, Kankakee, Kendall, Jo Daviess, LaSalle, Lake, Lee, McHenry, Ogle, Putnam, Stephenson, Whiteside, Will and Winnebago. 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/il/chicago or visit us on Twitter @ChicagoRedCross.