January 03, 2025
Local News

Crystal Lake School District 47 students learn how to pack for an emergency (with video)

By KATIE DAHLSTROM
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H. Rick Bamman – hbamman@shawmedia.com Canterbury Elementary School third-grader Simon Rupniewski demonstrates how to check for a hot door with the back of his hand during a fire at the Pillowcase Project program Tuesday in Crystal Lake. Red Cross instructors were at the school to teach more than 700 children what to do in various emergency situations. (H. Rick Bamman)

CRYSTAL LAKE If 8-year-old Simon Rupniewski had to seek shelter from a tornado in his Cary home, he likely would have a kitten and pillowcase at his side.

Simon, a third-grade student at Canterbury Elementary School in Crystal Lake, was part of a training program Tuesday designed to teach children what to do in case of various emergencies.

“I learned how to protect yourself with all the fire escape plans because my family doesn’t have one,” Simon said.

Officials with the American Red Cross will deliver similar presentations to 700 third- through fifth-grade students at Canterbury and North elementary schools the rest of the week. The effort is part of the agency’s Pillowcase Project, which encourages children to make an emergency kit they can keep in a pillowcase.

Indonic Metz, an emergency preparedness instructor with the Red Cross, said his hope is that after an hour learning about different emergencies, students will go home and help educate their parents.

“I want to plant the seed that it’s OK to take steps to be prepared for an emergency,” Metz said. “We do tornado drills and fire drills at school and work, and I want them to know it’s OK to do things like that at home.”

Red Cross officials with the New Orleans chapter developed the project after Hurricane Katrina, when many children carried their belongings from their devastated homes in pillowcases, said Red Cross spokeswoman Patricia Kemp. The project spread in 2014, and this year is the first year District 47 participated.

Students ended the session by decorating pillowcases, which were already adorned with a list of supplies, such as water, food and soap. Simon said he plans to put his pillowcase under his bed. Classmate Brady Sterzik, 9, of Lakewood also plans to put his pillowcase in his bedroom.

Brady said he already felt more prepared with the empty pillowcase in tow.

“Now we are able to know a little more of what’s going on,” Brady said, “not just sitting there going ‘Hmm, what should I do?’ if there’s a local tornado or a storm.”

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