Overlake Red Cross Club Completes First Service Project: Disaster Speaks
Disaster Speaks, Overlake Red Cross Club’s first service project of the year, focuses on testimonies of people in Washington state who have endured natural disasters, primarily forest fires and home fires. The club created a presentation where they found personal stories of families affected by the Sumner Grade Fire, Pearl Fire, Graham Fire, and a home fire, all of which have occurred within the last year in Washington state. These testimonies shed light on the struggles ordinary families go through during fires and the toll it takes on their occupations, means of living, and psychological well-being. The American Red Cross serves as a stable foundation for families affected by natural disasters, and their skilled responders assist these families in getting back on their feet. Other ways the Red Cross foundation helps families affected by fires include providing shelter, food, water, clothing, and other immediate necessities, especially for those who have been evacuated from their homes. Students who were unable to view the Disaster Speaks presentation can find it here.
When asked about Overlake Red Cross Club’s goal with this project, Kiran Mitra (‘23), co-leader of the club, responded, “Our goal was to reach as many people as possible, and try to get many students to reflect on disaster and how it might affect them and how to prepare for it.” She went on to add that the club wanted to raise awareness around an issue that the Overlake community may not think about as often.
The Red Cross Club released a survey after Overlake students viewed their presentation and collected both qualitative and quantitative data surrounding the preparedness and awareness of students with fires. Overall, the ratio of ideal responses they received to the less effective responses was half and half. While several students demonstrated that they hadn’t given home fire safety much thought, the Red Cross Club expected the results they received to be mixed and realize that some people may not have been as aware of the relevancy of wildfires in Washington state.
Although Washington is a damp region, the state is still prone to wildfires, and home fires can easily occur, which is why it is important to create a home fire escape plan with your family. Home fires greatly impact the elderly and children, mostly because it is difficult for young children and older adults to move quickly and figure out where they need to go. On average, 7 people die every day from a home fire. For families with older adults, children, or other vulnerable members, it is advised by The American Red Cross to create a clear home fire escape plan and to practice the plan a couple of times each year so that in the case of a real home fire, everyone knows exactly how to exit the house. 45% of Overlake students responded in the survey that they have a home fire escape plan. Installing proper smoke detectors is also fundamental in the case of a fire, and it is important to test smoke alarms every month. This ensures that everyone in the house is aware of the fire as soon as possible and has time to safely execute their escape plan. Only 14% of students responded that they test their smoke alarms monthly. On average, 36 people suffer injuries due to home fires every day. In the case of a home fire, after exiting the house, one should never re-enter the house to retrieve any items or to assist another member in escaping the fire. After exiting the house, one person should dial 911 and everyone should remain outside until help arrives. 60% of students indicated that they are prepared to leave their house suddenly. Additionally, if you get injured or separated from your family during a disaster and are unable to remember your emergency contact numbers, carrying physical emergency contact cards is extremely useful. 14% of students carry emergency contact cards with them.
Regarding their future projects and goals for the Red Cross Club, Kaustav Mitra (‘24), co-leader of the club, described their upcoming project titled Missing Maps. “We are planning on doing another project called Missing Maps where we’ll map obsolete locations to help first responders and the community,” he explained. Kiran Mitra added that the club hopes to continue to help The American Red Cross’ initiatives. All of the Red Cross Club’s projects are eligible for service hours provided by The American Red Cross, so students participating in the club will earn service hours by engaging in the projects. Their upcoming project, Missing Maps, is another opportunity to earn service hours for next semester. Both club leaders are looking forward to new members joining in the second semester.
The American Red Cross has several resources on their website with tips and information on how to create your escape plan, be prepared for a disaster, etc. Here is a list of resources compiled by the Overlake Red Cross Club to assist the Overlake community in ensuring they are prepared for a fire.
