Disasters are frightening experiences, especially for children. That’s why the American Red Cross is teaching kids how to prevent and stay safe from emergencies through its free Youth Disaster Preparedness Program designed to help students learn, practice, and share safety information about disasters that may occur in their local community. This includes home fires and other emergencies like tornadoes, hurricanes, floods, and earthquakes.

Engaging youth through programs such as The Pillowcase Project, Prepare with Pedro, and Monster Guard, the Red Cross is developing a generation of children who are knowledgeable about natural hazards and empowered to take preparedness actions, including practicing what they’ve learned and sharing the information with family and friends. The program provides students with information, tools, and basic coping skills to better handle emergencies and other stressful events, enabling them to take more responsibility over their own personal preparedness.