UIS students partner with the American Red Cross to prevent fires during MLK Jr. Day of Service

WHAT: Approximately 50 students, in coordination with the University of Illinois Springfield Volunteer and Civic Engagement Center, will be going door-to-door distributing American Red Cross fire safety and disaster preparedness information to thousands of homes on Springfield’s east side. The effort is part of the national Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service.

WHEN: Monday, January 21, 2013 from Noon to 4 p.m.

WHERE: Various neighborhoods on the east side of Springfield.

DETAILS: UIS students will be distributing safety information to various neighborhoods and areas where the American Red Cross, Illinois Capital Area Chapter has seen the most fires over the past two years. The goal is to increase safety awareness through education to help lower the number of fires each year.

According to the Springfield Fire Department, “Increased risk of residential fire accompanies behaviors like smoking, inattentive grease frying, alternative heating (space heaters or stove heating instead of traditional methods), and even poor general housekeeping. Inadequate smoke and carbon monoxide detector use adds to the risk of death or injury.”

The UIS student volunteers are members of the following campus organizations: Alternative Spring Break, Black Male Collegiate Society, Leadership for Life, International Student Organization, Military Veterans Student Organization, and the Alpha Phi Omega Service Fraternity.

On average, the American Red Cross, Illinois Capital Area Chapter responds to a disaster every 72 hours and provides direct financial assistance to hundreds of individuals and families every year.