More than 40 students from 13 schools help their peers prevent and prepare for home fires

St. Louis, Wednesday, November 29, 2006 - Throughout National Youth Involvement Month (November), American Red Cross YouthCorps members from 13 local schools have reached out to their peers and neighbors in the metropolitan area to increase fire safety awareness. A total of 46 teens have dedicated nearly 500 volunteer hours, helping more than 800 peers to prevent and prepare for home fires.

"YouthCorps members are dedicated to helping their schools and communities to be as safe as possible," said Deane Adam, director of youth services for the American Red Cross St. Louis Area Chapter. "Because of this effort, students are learning the importance of identifying a meeting place, installing and maintaining smoke detectors, and discussing the dangers posed by home fires with their family members."

Students from the following local schools participated in fire safety community outreach during National Youth Involvement Month:

• Belleville West High School (Belleville, IL)
• Bishop DuBourg High School (St. Louis, MO)
• Florissant Valley Community College (Florissant, MO)
• Fox High School (Arnold, MO)
• Freeburg High School (Freeburg, IL)
• Hancock Middle School (St. Louis, MO)
• Hazelwood Central High School (Hazelwood, MO)
• Mary Institute Country Day School (St. Louis, MO)
• Mascoutah High School (Mascoutah, IL)
• O'Fallon Township High School (O'Fallon, IL)
• Parkway North High School (St. Louis, MO)
• Pattonville High School (St. Louis, MO)
• Timberland High School (Wentzville, MO)

Simple Fire Safety Tips to Protect Your Family and Home:
According to a recent poll by the Red Cross, four out of five Americans are unaware that home fires are the most common disaster in the United States, and only 26 percent of families have actually developed and practiced a home fire escape plan. In the metropolitan area each year, the St. Louis Area Chapter provides immediate assistance such as food, clothing and shelter to more than 1,100 families who lose their homes to fire.

Since fires kill more Americans each year than all natural disasters combined, the Red Cross urges families to use Red Cross resources to develop a fire escape plan and to take steps toward fire prevention and safety.
Helpful tips include the following:

• Smoke alarms save lives. Install a smoke alarm outside each sleeping area and on each additional level of your home. If people sleep with doors closed, install smoke alarms inside sleeping areas. Use the test button to check each smoke alarm once a month. When necessary, replace batteries immediately. Replace all batteries at least once a year. Smoke alarms become less sensitive over time, so replace your smoke alarm every 10 years.
• Consider having one or more working fire extinguishers in your home. Get training from the fire department in the proper use of your extinguishers.
• Consider installing an automatic fire sprinkler system in your home.
• Determine at least two ways to escape from every room of your home. Consider escape ladders for sleeping areas on the second or third floors. Learn how to use escape ladders and store them near windows.
• Select a meeting place outside your home where everyone would go after escaping.
• Practice your escape plan, especially with children and older adults, at least twice a year and revise as necessary.

About Red Cross YouthCorps:
The American Red Cross YouthCorps Program is designed for high school teens.  YouthCorps trains individuals in the programs and services of the American Red Cross during after-school group sessions held once a week. Training focuses on health and safety and disaster preparedness, and Red Cross programs are then presented by YouthCorps members throughout area schools. Last year, YouthCorps members reached more than 2,600 peers and remained active in community outreach through various service projects.

As an active member of YouthCorps, students are eligible to attend a three-day, two-night Leadership Development Camp at Trout Lodge each summer. YouthCorps members also receive free training and Red Cross certification in first aid and CPR. Leadership roles are available through the Youth Advisory Board, which plans activities and programs for area YouthCorps members and provides insight regarding important issues for high school students. In addition, two YouthCorps members currently serve on the American Red Cross St. Louis Area Chapter's Board of Directors.

To start a YouthCorps group in an area school, students need a school sponsor, a classroom where the group can meet, and at least six high school students interested in peer teaching and service projects.

For More Information:
To learn more about getting involved in the community through Red Cross YouthCorps, or for additional fire safety information, please call the American Red Cross St. Louis Area Chapter at 314.516.2800 or log on to www.redcrossstl.org.

About the American Red Cross St. Louis Area Chapter:
Founded in 1917, the American Red Cross St. Louis Area Chapter provides emergency and preparedness assistance more than 410,000 times each year. The Red Cross depends on the efforts of thousands of volunteers and 100 staff to provide a wide range of community support services, including disaster relief, first aid and CPR training, water safety, services to military personnel and support for blood services. The Chapter, a United Way agency, provides programs and services to St. Louis City, St. Louis County, St. Charles County and Jefferson County in Missouri, as well as Monroe, St. Clair (including Scott Air Force Base) and part of Madison County in Illinois.

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