Echo News Echo News
By Rebecca Peppiatt
GLEN Forrest Primary school students took part in a Red Cross program designed to build knowledge and capacity in disaster preparedness.
During Hurricane Katrina in 2005, students from a local university used pillowcases to carry their cherished and basic possessions while evacuating campus.
Upon hearing this, Red Cross staff developed the concept of using a pillowcase as an emergency kit.
The program quickly grew into a disaster resilience education program that has since been known as the Pillowcase Project.
On December 9, Red Cross volunteers Tania Whisson and Maree Cullinan taught students from years 2, 3 and 4 about the importance of being prepared while discussing thoughts and feelings that may arise before, during and after an emergency.
Each child was given a pillowcase to decorate and take home, to start their own personal emergency kit.
“Glen Forrest students enjoyed decorating their pillowcases and drew on all the items they needed in their emergency kit,” teacher Trish Patchett said.
