Red Cross members from around the Hunter gathered in Singleton last week to upgrade their training in the Red Cross Pillowcase Program which they hope to share with local schools.
The Pillowcase Program is a disaster resilience education program designed to help children prepare for, cope with and respond to emergencies.
The interactive program encourages students to think about what they would do in an emergency and what they would pack in their emergency kit.
Students are then given a pillowcase to decorate and take home to start their own personal emergency kit, hence the program’s title.
The program was originally created after Hurricane Katrina in 2005 when a number of university students were using pillowcases to carry their belongings while evacuating from the storm.
The goal of the program is to build resilient communities and support people in disasters by creating a generation of children who are aware of the importance of personal preparedness, empowered to take action and share what they have learnt with friends and loved ones.
Schools can apply to host the program by contacting Singleton Branch of the Red Cross on 0456 822 453.
Branch president Di Sneddon said there were obviously restrictions at schools in terms of visitation by the Red Cross but that schools could lodge their interest now and as soon as restrictions are lifted, interested schools will be contacted to lock in a date.
