Vermont Business Magazine The New Hampshire and Vermont region may no longer be in pressing danger from Hurricane Joaquin, but the Red Cross advocates that this may be a good time to have conversations with our children about disasters, and what to do when something happens. Many people in more southern states are still going to experience weather related damages, and the Monster Guard App gives children a way to communicate and learn about what they’re hearing in the news.
A new version of the American Red Cross Monster Guard: Prepare for Emergencies App is now available to help save lives through gaming. Children between the ages of 7 and 11 learn ways to prepare and stay safe in home fires, hurricanes, tornadoes, floods and other disasters by role-playing as different monster characters.
“The Monster Guard App provides a fun, gaming environment for youth to learn about fire prevention and what to do if a fire or other disaster occurs,” said Maria Devlin, CEO of the American Red Cross in New Hampshire and Vermont. “The intent is to empower children with knowledge that enables them to discuss what they’ve learned with family and household members.”
Set in the ‘Monster Guard Academy,’ children earn points as they identify hazards, locate a safe room in the house, and select items for their emergency supplies kit. They earn gold, silver or bronze medals based on the number of points they score. Star multipliers located throughout the episodes allow them to bump their scores even higher. If a player completes all the episodes, he or she will graduate and become a member of the ‘Monster Guard.’
Available for tablets and other mobile devices, the new version of the app runs on iOS 7 and above. The previous version runs on Android OS 4x and up. People can text ‘MONSTER’ to 90999 and receive a direct link to download the app or go toredcross.org/monsterguard. Children should ask a parent or guardian for permission to download the app.
The app is a key component of theRed Cross Home Fire Campaignto reduce deaths and injuries from home fires by as much as 25 percent over the next five years. The campaign focuses on increasing the use of smoke alarms in neighborhoods with high numbers of home fires and encouraging everyone to practice their fire escape plans.
About the American Red Cross:
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visitredcross.orgor visit us on Twitter at@RedCross.
CONCORD, NH. Friday, October 02, 2015—Red Cross