Red Cross helps family displaced by fire

LAKELAND, FL (Dec. 15, 2008) — On Monday, Dec. 15, Red Cross volunteers helped a family of five displaced when a fire broke out in their trailer home on U.S. 98 in north Lakeland.

The mother was taken to the hospital, but fortunately, no one else was injured. They had arranged to stay with family, but volunteers were able to provide her, the father, and the three children with emergency assistance for clothing and groceries, comfort kits (personal hygiene supplies), odor-control concentrated cleaner to help salvage items from the home, landlord verification forms to assist in relocation, and three teddy bears to comfort the children.

Last month, the Polk Red Cross helped an average of a family every two days that had been displaced by house fire. Red Cross volunteers have, on many occasions, helped more than one family in a 24-hour period, and back-to-back fires are all too common

Home fires typically increase during colder months when people use alternative sources of heat, as well as during holidays, from misuse of electrical holiday decorations or candles. Please do whatever you can to prevent home fires. Prevention tips are available from the American Red Cross Polk County Chapter at http://polkcountyfl.redcross.org.

The American Red Cross provides immediate emergency assistance based on need, thanks to donations from individuals and businesses in the local community. Please support your local Red Cross.