The 920th Force Support Squadron and the American Red Cross hosted a disaster preparedness event for children up to 6th grade to increase awareness and teach safety during unexpected times of disaster.
The event involved a presentation with a preparedness activity book, house fire safety and a pillowcase activity designed to give children a personalized compartment for their emergency kit.
According to Jose Bueno, American Red Cross preparedness manager for central Florida, the Pillowcase Project was founded after hurricane Katrina when children put all of their belongings in a pillowcase when escaping the storm.
“Children learn fire safety and other preparedness tips at school and we hosted this event to teach these skills at home,” Bueno said. “We want to make them advocates for preparedness and teach them to stay calm during an emergency.”
Matthew and Barbara Cannon’s children, Patrick Air Force Base members, participated in the event and according to their parents were heavily engaged.
“Teaching our children about being prepared should be prioritized, especially living in Florida where we frequently experience hurricanes,” Matthew said. “Preparedness is a team effort and the skills learned here are important to practice with our children.”
Both the American Red Cross and the 920th FSS would like to host more preparedness events soon.