Polk Red Cross helps two families after separate fires

One family of eight affected and a single woman displaced Wednesday by fires

POLK COUNTY FL (Jan. 29, 2009) – House fires continue to keep the American Red Cross busy in Polk County.

 Volunteers with the American Red Cross Polk County Chapter helped two families on Thursday who had been affected or displaced by fire Wednesday, Jan. 28.

At 10 a.m. Thursday, volunteers met with a family of eight – four adults and four children – who had a kitchen fire in their home on East Stuart Street in Bartow. Their landlord is providing them with shelter. Red Cross volunteers provided them with comfort kits (personal hygiene kits), a Red Cross clean-up kit, odor-control concentrate to help salvage items from the home, and teddy bear stuffed toys to comfort the children.

Afterward, they met with a woman whose home was completely destroyed on Burns Street in Lakeland. The woman was not home at the time of the fire, but reportedly her dog survived the blaze. She is staying with a friend while looking for a new home. Red Cross volunteers provided her with emergency assistance for clothing and food, a comfort kit, a teddy bear stuffed toy to comfort her, and other Red Cross assistance.

Since Tuesday, Jan. 20, the Polk Red Cross has responded to eight fire scenes, and assisted a total of 11 families – 19 adults and seven children.

A fire in Homeland on Jan. 20 displaced a man from his home, although he declined monetary or shelter assistance. A fire late at night on Jan. 20 displaced a Winter Haven couple from their home. A fire Wednesday afternoon, Jan. 21, displaced three Auburndale adults from their apartment, while a fire on Jan. 22 displaced a Wahneta family of four. All received Red Cross assistance.

On Friday, Jan. 23, the Red Cross learned of a couple in Davenport displaced, injured, and hospitalized by fire. They were released from the hospital this week and received Red Cross assistance. Then, on Wednesday, a fire in a single story apartment building on Nalcrest Road off State Road 60 displaced six families. All received Red Cross assistance except for one person who was not in the area and a couple who declined Red Cross help.

The Red Cross asks each individual and family to do everything possible to prevent fires or fire-related injuries in their homes. Please check that smoke detectors are in good working order, and practice fire escape plans to ensure every person get’s out of a burning home safely. Prevention and safety tips are available at http://polkcountyfl.redcross.org.

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

Polk Red Cross helps four families after apartment fire

LAKE WALES, FL (Jan. 28, 2009) – A volunteer Disaster Action Team with the American Red Cross Polk County Chapter helped four families displaced when several units of a single-floor apartment building caught fire Wednesday.

Polk Red Cross volunteers talk with the property manager at Nalcrest Retirement Community, east of Lake Wales, on Wednesday, Jan. 28, after a fire displaced six families from a single-floor apartment building.

The fire occurred on Nalcrest Road in a community east of Lake Wales off State Road 60. Six families were displaced. One of the seven is not in town, while another family – a couple – had minor damage and declined Red Cross assistance.

Of the remaining four families, one couple did not need temporary shelter, but did accept emergency assistance for groceries and clothing, and comfort kits (personal hygiene kits). Volunteers provided the other three adults each with temporary shelter, comfort kits, and other emergency assistance, as needed.

This fire is the latest in a week of fire calls for the Polk County Chapter – nearly one every day since last Tuesday. A fire late at night on Jan. 20 displaced a Winter Haven couple from their home. A fire Wednesday afternoon, Jan. 21, displaced three Auburndale adults from their apartment, while a fire Thursday morning displaced a Wahneta family of five.

On Friday, the Red Cross learned of a couple in Davenport displaced, injured, and hospitalized by fire. They were released from the hospital this week and have since received Red Cross assistance.

Polk Red Cross volunteer Linda Haskins talks with a resident of Nalcrest Retirement Community on Jan. 28, after a fire displaced her and many other residents from a six-unit apartment building.

The Red Cross asks each individual and family to do everything possible to prevent fires or fire-related injuries in their homes. Please check that smoke detectors are in good working order, and practice fire escape plans to ensure every person get’s out of a burning home safely. Prevention and safety 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 both individuals and businesses in the local community. Your support makes Red Cross assistance possible. Please support your local Red Cross.

Polk Red Cross responds to three fires in one day

Polk County Chapter volunteers have helped four families in three days of fires

POLK COUNTY, FL (Jan. 23, 2008) – House fire responses on Friday, Jan. 23, kept volunteers with the American Red Cross Polk County Chapter busy, sending help to where it might be needed.

On Friday, volunteers with the chapter’s Disaster Action Team responded to families in Lakeland, Davenport, and Homeland.

In Lakeland, a fire Friday morning severely damaged one mobile home on Beverly Hills Road and affected another next door. Volunteers provided the first family – two adults and two children – with temporary shelter, emergency assistance for groceries for two people, emergency assistance for clothing for one person, and teddy bear stuffed toys to comfort the children.

The mobile home next door suffered some damage, but the family did not require Red Cross assistance.

In Davenport, one couple was hospitalized after a home fire. Red Cross volunteers plan to meet with them after they have been released from treatment.

In Homeland, a house fire took place on Tuesday, Jan. 20. The family has already made arrangements but the Red Cross did provide him with odor-control concentrated cleaner to help salvage items from their home.

Other fires over the last three days include a fire late Tuesday night, Jan. 20. It displaced a Winter Haven couple from their home. A fire Wednesday afternoon, Jan. 21, displaced an Auburndale family of three adults from their apartment, while a Thursday morning displaced a Wahneta family of five.

Blasts of cold weather often bring more home fires, caused by everything from faulty electrical appliances to broken or misused space heaters and other alternative heat sources. Local fires have also started from lit candles, smoldering cigarettes, and cooking accidents.

While doing whatever you can to keep your family safe and warm this winter, please do everything possible to prevent a fire in your home. In addition, check that smoke detectors are in good working order. Prevention and safety 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 both individuals and businesses in the local community. Please support your local Red Cross.

Cold weather may bring more than chills

 

As Lows Drop in Central Florida, Remember Cold Weather and Fire Prevention Tips

 

Tuesday, Jan. 22, 2009 — Tonight, temperatures in central Florida are expected to stay in the 30s, and many people will still feel the intense chill that has affected the rest of the nation.

Cold weather emergencies can be prevented by taking simple precautions. Limit exposure to cold weather to prevent injury or serious illness such as frostbite or hypothermia by controlling on factors such as physical activity, clothing, and working and living conditions. A person’s age and state of health, as well as wind and humidity will make a difference as well.

If people use space heaters or other heating sources, they should be cautious, and plan ahead against the possibility of a home fire. According to the National Fire Protection Association, four out of seven home fires occur in December, January and February. About half are caused by candles and overloaded electrical circuits. As families turn to alternative heating sources, there is increased risk of accidental fires in the home.

Most of the disaster responses for Red Cross chapters across the nation come from single-family residential fires, bringing comfort and relief to people displaced by the disaster — neighbors, family members, employees or friends. Although many of these single family residential fires may not make headlines, they are equally devastating as a tornado or flood to those affected. To the family or individual who has lost everything, there is no such thing as a “small” disaster. Stay safe and prepared by following your Red Cross’s safety tips.

Follow these tips to stay safe in cold weather:

• Dress appropriately before going outdoors. The air temperature does not have to be below freezing for someone to experience cold emergencies such as hypothermia and frostbite. Wind speed can create dangerously cold conditions even when the temperature is not that low.
• Dress in layers so you can adjust to changing conditions. Avoid overdressing or overexertion that can lead to heat illness.
• Most of your body heat is lost through your head so wear a hat, preferably one that covers your ears.
• Mittens provide more warmth to your hands than gloves.
• Get out of wet clothes immediately and warm the core body temperature with a blanket or warm fluids like hot cider or soup. Avoid drinking caffeine or alcohol if it seems that you or someone you are trying to help has hypothermia or frostbite.
• Recognize the symptoms of hypothermia that can be a serious medical condition: confusion, dizziness, exhaustion and severe shivering. Seek medical attention immediately if you have these symptoms.
• Recognize frostbite warning signs: gray, white or yellow skin discoloration, numbness, waxy-feeling skin. Seek medical attention immediately if you have these symptoms.
• Travel and winter can be a dangerous combination. Allow extra time when traveling. Monitor weather conditions carefully and adhere to travel advisories. Keep a survival kit in your car that includes a blanket, food, gloves and first aid supplies. Visit the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Web site for a more extensive list.
• Remember to keep your pets indoors during very cold days and nights. In addition, protect plants that might be affected by the low temperatures.

Follow These Red Cross Tips to Prevent Home Heating Fires During Cold Weather:

• Keep all potential fuel sources (newspapers, matches, bedding, clothing, carpets and rugs) at least three feet away from heat sources, such as space heaters, fireplaces and stoves.
• Provide constant adult supervision in rooms with lit candles or fires.
• Keep fire in the fireplace by using glass or metal fire screens.
• Never leave a fire in the fireplace unattended. Extinguish the fire before going to bed or leaving the house.
• Never use a cooking range or oven to heat your home.
• Turn off portable space heaters every time you leave the room or go to sleep.
• Have wood and coal stoves, fireplaces, and chimneys inspected annually by a professional, and cleaned if necessary.
• If you must use space heaters, place them on a level, hard and nonflammable surface (such as ceramic tile floor), not on rugs or carpets or near bedding or drapes. Keep children and pets away from space heaters.

 

Polk Red Cross helps third family in 36 hours of home fires

Polk Chapter volunteers help family of five in Wahneta, near Winter Haven

WAHNETA, FL (Jan. 22, 2008) – American Red Cross volunteers in Polk county have now helped three families displaced by house fires within a day and a half – 36 hours.

 

At 10 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 22, volunteers went to Wahneta – a community between Winter Haven and Eagle Lake on U.S. 17 – to assist a family of five displaced from their home on Eighth Street East by a fire. Disaster Action Team volunteers were able to provide the a couple and her three children with temporary shelter, comfort kits (persona hygiene kits), American Red Cross T-shirts, and emergency assistance for groceries and clothing.

 

This was the second time in as many years that the American Red Cross was able to help this particular family. On April 3, 2007, volunteers arrived at the mother’s destroyed mobile home on Ridge Acres Drive, also in Wahneta, and assisted her and her three children with temporary shelter and other assistance.

 

This year’s most recent run of fire responses began with a fire late Tuesday night, Jan. 20. Polk Red Cross volunteers met shortly after midnight on Wednesday, Jan. 21, with a Winter Haven couple who had been displaced from their home on Sugar Creek Road. Volunteers provided them with temporary shelter and other assistance.

 

Less than 18 hours later – at 5:15 p.m. Wednesday – volunteers received word of a family of three adults displayed by a fire in their apartment on Leo Drive in Auburndale. Volunteers arrived within an hour and provided temporary shelter and other assistance to that family, also.

 

Blasts of cold weather often bring more home fires, with such common causes as improper use of space heaters and other alternative sources of heat, faulty electrical appliances, lack of caution with lit candles or smoldering cigarettes, or cooking mishaps.

 

Do whatever you can to keep your family safe and warm this winter. At the same time, please do everything possible to prevent a fire in your home, and be sure to check that smoke detectors are in good working order. Prevention and safety 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 generous donations from both individuals and businesses in the local community.  Please support your local Red Cross.

Red Cross helps Auburndale trio after apartment fire

Fire response makes two in one day for Polk Chapter volunteers

AUBURNDALE, FL (Jan. 21, 2008) – Red Cross volunteers rolled out twice in one day to help families after home fires.

The first occurred when volunteers met with a couple shortly after midnight on Wednesday, Jan. 21, after a fire had displaced the family from their home on Sugar Creek Road in Winter Haven. Volunteers provided temporary shelter, emergency assistance for groceries and clothing, and other assistance.

Then, at 5:15 p.m. Wednesday, volunteers received word of a family of three adults displaced by a fire in their apartment on Leo Drive in Auburndale. Volunteers arrived at 6:20 p.m. and provided the family with temporary shelter, personal hygiene kits, emergency assistance for groceries, and a bottle of odor-control concentrated cleaner to help salvage items from the home.

Even in Florida, winter will bring cold weather, which often brings home fires. Some of the most common causes include improper use of alternative sources of heat, faulty electrical appliances, lack of care with candles or cigarettes, or cooking mishaps.

Please do whatever you can to prevent a fire in your home, and make sure to check that smoke detectors are in working order. Prevention and safety 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.

Red Cross helps Winter Haven couple after house fire

WINTER HAVEN, FL (Jan. 21, 2008) – Red Cross volunteers will roll out to help a person in need, especially in the middle of the night.

Late Tuesday night, Jan. 20, a fire displaced a couple living on Sugar Creek Road in Winter Haven, and injured the woman, who was taken to a local hospital. Volunteers with the American Red Cross Polk County Chapter met with the couple at 12:22 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 21, and provided them with temporary shelter, comfort kits (personal hygiene kit), emergency assistance for groceries and clothing, Red Cross T-shirts, blankets, and a Mickey Mouse stuffed toy to comfort them.

Even in Florida, winter will bring cold weather. Home fires typically increase during colder months for many reasons. Some of the most common include improper use of alternative sources of heat, faulty electrical appliances, lack of care with candles or cigarettes, or cooking mishaps. Please do whatever you can to prevent a fire in your home, and make sure to check that smoke detectors are in working order. Prevention and safety 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.

Two Women Save Winter Haven Toddler from Drowning

Two-Year-Old Boy Alive Today Because of Quick Thinking and Red Cross Training

On Sunday, Jan. 18, Phil Attinger, Public Relations Director for the American Red Cross Polk County Chapter, tells the story of how two-year-old Dalton Butler, held by his mother Teresa and father Tony, was saved from a near drowning last October by the Butlers’ family friend and nursing student Chimane Mowrer and by Michelle Lopez, a bystander who had also taken Red Cross CPR.

WINTER HAVEN (Jan. 18, 2009) — Oct. 18, 2008, it was a typical late autumn Saturday in Central Florida. Tony and Teresa Butler were hosting a birthday party for their older son at her mother’s community swimming pool in Winter Haven.

Along with her mother and family friends, their youngest son, Dalton, 19 months, was also there. As it got late in the afternoon, glare settled on the pool and they began packing up. Dalton was playing on the steps into the pool, “just a couple of feet from me,” Teresa said.

When she turned around, he wasn’t there. She looked at the pool, but couldn’t see anything because of the glare. She ran around the pool and then she saw him, floating and not moving.

She immediately jumped in, and though she couldn’t touch bottom, she lifted Dalton up to his grandmother. He was immediately taken by family friend Chimane Mowrer, a nursing student, and another woman from the community who hadn’t been at the pool long, but was also CPR-certified.

They worked on Dalton while his grandmother called an ambulance.

“I dropped to my knees to pray,” Teresa said.

Two-year-old Dalton Butler admires a daisy while (from left) Chimane Mowrer, his mother Teresa Butler, and Michelle Lopez chat. Teresa worked with the American Red Cross Polk county Chapter to get the two recognized on Sunday, Jan. 18, 2009, for using Red Cross CPR skills to save Dalton from a near drowning on Oct. 18, 2008.

Chimane and the other woman, who Teresa later learned was Michelle Lopez, revived Dalton and had him awake and breathing by the time Emergency Medical Services arrived. They took him to Winter Haven Hospital, and then transferred him to Lakeland, but after a night’s treatment and two days rest, his doctor said he was OK.

Teresa can’t thank Chimane and her new friend Michelle enough for helping when she was needed: “The Lord put her there,” she said.

Another thing that made sure they could help was their American Red Cross CPR training. Each year, the American Red Cross Polk County Chapter trains more than 10,000 people in life-saving techniques: CPR, first aid, water safety, and babysitting.

This training can make heroes out of ordinary people who respond in an emergency and use their training to save a life, just like Dalton. No one hopes to have to use their Red Cross training to save a life, but everyone who has was glad they had the training.

The American Red Cross Polk County Chapter recognized both women for their “Extraordinary Personal Action” on Sunday, Jan. 18, at the Butler’s church, Calvary Baptist Church in Winter Haven.

Call the American Red Cross Polk County Chapter to learn Infant and Child CPR and First Aid, as well as Babysitting, and Aquatics Training. For information, call (863) 294-5941, fax (863) 293-9626, or e-mail linda@polkredcross.org.