Community Disaster Education

Pan Little
Coordinator

Disasters are rarely expected and can be disruptive to our everyday lives. They can result in property damage, injury, and emotional stress. While we cannot control when or where disasters strike, we can take steps to protect ourselves and our family members. We can learn how to prepare for disasters.

The American Red Cross of Upstate South Carolina, through its Community Disaster Education Program, offers presentations to children who are among our most vulnerable population during any type of disaster.

The Community Disaster Education Program teaches residents of our community how to prevent, prepare for, and respond to disasters. There are presentations available at no charge for children as well as for adults. Specific topics are listed below. There are also brochures available from the Chapter on a wide range of topics.

All Presentations are Cost-Free

Most relate to South Carolina Science Teaching Standards

TOPICS

Topics cover events which can or do impact the Upstate such as home fires, weather phenomena (winter storms, lightening storms, tornadoes, hurricanes), and floods.

Each presentation provides information about causation, preparedness, and in some cases, prevention with primary focus on basic safety lessons that children can understand and remember.

Information is conveyed in a non-threatening manner. Supplemental materials (coloring books, worksheets, etc.) and teachers’ resources are provided.

PRESENTATIONS

• Presentations are offered Tuesday through Friday
• Assemblies are scheduled for Wednesday through Friday
• Last 30 to 45 minutes
• May be offered as multi-class assemblies with costumed characters for the auditorium/cafeteria OR puppet stage presentations for classrooms of up to 30 students

Please note!Assemblies are scheduled for Wednesdays and Thursdays and may begin at 9 am to allow setup time. Tuesday afternoons may be scheduled when necessary. We ask that teachers or designated adults accompany students throughout the presentation or assembly program.

Presentations marked with an asterisk are offered as both assembly and classroom presentation. Please specify which presentation desired when request is made.

K - 1^st Grade

• *It’s Raining Cats and Dogs
• Thunder Storm Safety
• *Be Ready 1,2,3 Cool Cat,

Fire Safety

• *Be Ready 1,2,3 Ready Rabbit
• Winter Safety
• Be Ready 1,2,3 Disaster Dog,
• Earthquake Preparedness

2^nd – 5^th

• *Doctor Weather, Tornado Safety
• Disaster Jeopardy, Review All Hazards
  (Team quiz game and discussion)
• General Disaster Preparation
  (Discussion)
• Designed to not place the burden of family safety on the child.  Students think through a family disaster plan and supply kit, review fire escape planning and calling for help.
• Master of Disaster
• Hurricane Safety
• Tornado Safety
• Earthquake Safety
• Fire Safety
• Lightning Safety
  (Discussion, Demonstration, and Worksheets)
  (Please allow 45 minutes)

4th – 5th Grade

Look Hot-Stay Cool, Fire Setting Prevention
(Video with discussion)

This presentation focuses on why kids play with fire, the consequences, and ways to deal with peer pressure to start and play with fire.  The video contains about 10 seconds of testimonial footage from a preteen badly burned from playing with fire.  Teachers may wish to preview the video to be sure it isn’t too graphic for their students.

PRESENTATIONS FOR ADULTS

• General Disaster Preparedness
• “Preparing for the Unexpected” – (Full program is 1¾ hours w/speakers & some group interaction)
• Detailed discussion of creating a personal/family disaster plan and emergency communication plan and supply kit, familiarity with school and business plan, what to do if disaster strikes, evacuation, sheltering in place, and a First Aid review.
• General Disaster Preparedness” – (Shortened version of the above)
• May place emphasis on specific issues by request (fire, tornado, winter storm safety, etc.)
• Disaster Preparedness, Specialty” – (As requested)
  Preparedness with focus on elderly, special needs or mobility problems, business/employees, etc.
  Disaster Jeopardy – (Game show format w/interactive teams.  Speaker time optional.)
• Covers natural disasters characteristics and safety/preparedness.

Earthquake – Speaker/discussion of earthquake science and safety with tips for a home hazard hunt.

Fire

• Hot Nights in Smokey Dale” (Speaker/video, 45 to 60 minutes)
• Fire prevention/safety – serious comedy!
• Fire Safety (Lecture/discussion format)
• Flood & Flashflood – Speaker/discussion of flood safety and ideas to reduce floodwater impact on your home.
• Stormy Weather – Speaker/discussion of weather science and safety/preparedness.  Choose winter storms, lightning storms, or hurricanes.

Tornados

• Bad Winds Over Breezy Town” (Speaker/video, 45 to 60 minutes)
  Tornado safety – serious comedy!

If you have questions or if you are interested in scheduling presentations for a school or community group, please call the Chapter at (864) 271-8222.

Volunteers are needed in Community Disaster Education (CDE) to do presentations for both children and adult groups. Volunteers are also needed to help plan and develop presentations and assist with special projects. If you are interested in becoming a CDE volunteer, or would like to schedule a CDE presentation, please call Pan Little or Karen S. Traxler at (864) 271-8222.