Red Cross at Early Morning Fire on Newportville Road

 Levittown, PA, December 17, 2007 – The American Red Cross Lower Bucks County Chapter responded to a single home fire in the 4600 block of Newportville Road in Bristol Township [Dec 17/3:00am].  The Disaster Action Team provided emergency assistance in the form of lodging, food, clothing, storage containers and comfort kits to four adults affected by the fire.  Mickey Mouse stuffed animals were also given to the neighborhood children to help provide comfort during a traumatic experience. 

Will follow-up to see if additional assistance is needed.

 “We will continue to work with the family to see if additional assistance is needed,” said Danielle Webb, Associate Director of Communications.  “This is the time of year we see an increase in home fires, we ask that people take precautions.”

The Red Cross recommends installing smoke alarms outside of each sleeping area and on each level of your home.  If you sleep with closed doors, install alarms inside each sleeping area.  Use the test button to test each smoke alarm once a month.  All smoke alarm batteries need to be replaced once a year.  Every family should have a fire escape plan that includes at least two escape routes from every room in the home.  Also chose a convenient meeting place at a safe distance from your home.  Practice your escape plan at least twice a year with all family members.

The Red Cross depends on the generous support of Lower Bucks residents to be ready to respond and help our neighbors who are affected by home fires.  You can help the Red Cross continue to help fire victims by making a financial contribution to the Lower Bucks County Chapter of the American Red Cross today.

For more Red Cross fire safety and preparedness information visit www.redcross.org/homefires or www.redcrosslbcc.org.

The American Red Cross Lower Bucks County Chapter is where people mobilize to help their neighbors prepare for, prevent, and respond to life’s emergencies.  Governed by volunteers and supported by community donations, the American Red Cross Lower Bucks County Chapter is dedicated to saving and improving lives.  Led by over 1,300 volunteers, the Red Cross annually mobilizes relief to over 700 disaster victims, trains almost 18,000 people in lifesaving skills, exchanges more than one hundred emergency messages for U.S. military service personnel and their families, and collects nearly 12,000 pints of blood for local hospitals.  The American Red Cross Lower Bucks County Chapter also has the country’s only 24-hour homeless shelter that serves around 400 adults and children each year.  The Red Cross is the largest supplier of blood and blood products in the area and also assists victims of international disasters and conflicts at locations worldwide.