Sands China Redoubles Disaster and Pandemic Prevention Efforts

Sanitisation and emergency typhoon response kits, community seminar and new social media campaign

(Macao, June 10, 2022) – Supported by the Social Affairs Bureau, Sands China Ltd. is further bolstering its disaster and pandemic prevention programme in collaboration with Macau Red Cross.

The programme addresses the community's needs amid the fight against the pandemic, and aims to help enhance the city's precautionary measures before natural disasters like typhoons and during emergency situations.

The company initiative comprises the packing and distribution of sanitisation and emergency response kits, and a social media campaign and free community seminar on emergency preparedness and epidemic prevention.

Dr. Wilfred Wong, president of Sands China Ltd., said: "In carrying out our corporate social responsibility, Sands China remains committed to helping Macao be prepared for known challenges like typhoons and the current pandemic, and for unpredictable difficulties like emergency situations. As a company rooted in Macao for nearly two decades now, we love and cherish our community, and it is our pleasure to contribute to its successes – past, present and future – and assist it in times of need. Our gratitude goes to the Macao government for its leadership and guidance, and to Macau Red Cross for its collaboration."

Sanitisation and Emergency Response Kits
Around 50 Sands Cares Ambassadors got together at Macau Red Cross headquarters June 7 to help assemble 800 sanitisation and emergency response kits. In support of the Macao SAR's pandemic response efforts and to better prevent epidemics in community, COVID-19 Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) kits were added to the kit this year. RAT test results can then be uploaded to the Health Bureau's Rapid Antigen Test Reporting Platform and serve as an important preventive measure during the pandemic.

In addition to the RAT kit, each emergency kit contains a variety of anti-pandemic, disaster preparation, and emergency items inside a multi-functional waterproof bag, including facemasks, instant hand sanitising gel, wet wipes, disinfectant liquid, whistle, hand towel, adhesive tape, raincoat, flashlight, first aid pack, bottled water, biscuits, and a government emergency response leaflet with handy information for critical situations.

The items were sourced locally and donated by Sands China, while Macau Red Cross designed the contents based on its experience in disaster preparedness and relief.

Distribution will be prioritised for households living in Macao's low-lying areas and vulnerable groups of the community, such as live-alone elderly and low-income families. The initiative is benefiting 800 households via five NGOs: Caritas Macau, the General Union of Neighbourhood Associations of Macau, the Macao Federation of Trade Unions, the Women's General Association of Macau, and Obra das Mães. Distribution is taking place in early June to help people during the pandemic period and in preparation for typhoon season. Sands Cares Ambassadors also helped deliver kits to elderly community members with limited mobility.

It is Sands China's fourth year supporting Macau Red Cross's emergency kit initiative, benefiting a total of 2,900 households in need to date.

Pandemic and Disaster Prevention Seminar
Sands China offered a seminar June 9 and is offering another one June 14 for about 100 members of the General Union of Neighbourhood Associations of Macao and Caritas Macau, to share knowledge needed to protect themselves during natural disasters and during the pandemic.

The seminars are being held at the associations' centres and are conducted by a Macau Red Cross representative. The content includes disaster prevention at home and how to shelter during an emergency, experience and knowledge gained from previous disasters, sources of accurate emergency information, pandemic prevention, and how to use the COVID-19 RAT kit. Sands Cares Ambassadors give each participant a sanitisation and emergency typhoon response kit at the seminar along with an introduction to its contents.

Social Media Campaign
Sands China is running a social media campaign June 10-16, titled Sands Cares Presents: What you need to know about epidemic and disaster prevention.

A new element of the disaster and pandemic prevention programme this year, the campaign aims to extend the promotional effect of the programme among the general public and to increase knowledge of epidemic prevention and disaster prevention through an online quiz game.

Participants can join the campaign via the Sands Cares WeChat account, where they will have a chance to win lucky draw prizes after answering the online quiz game questions correctly. Contest results will be announced June 17.

Owen Wong, deputy director of disaster relief affairs for Macau Red Cross, said: "In light of the severe damage Typhoons Hato and Mangkhut made to Macao, our community's disaster preparedness became a priority task. Sands China is a devoted supporter of charitable causes, and has made a remarkable contribution to disaster preparedness in collaboration with Macau Red Cross since 2019. Understanding residents' needs, we assigned representatives to low-lying areas through this initiative, in the hope of providing timely support to people in need and reminded people to prepare for disasters ahead of typhoon season to minimise the risks."

Sands China's community initiatives and the company's Sands Cares Ambassador programme are part of Sands Cares, the global corporate citizenship programme of parent company Las Vegas Sands Corp.

The Sands Cares Ambassador programme was established in August 2009 to give Sands China team members an outlet for serving the local community by organising community activities and initiatives that work toward creating a better Macao. With membership of more than 3,300 volunteers from across all Sands China properties – Sands^® Macao, The Venetian^® Macao, The Plaza^® Macao, The Parisian Macao and The Londoner^® Macao – the Sands Cares Ambassadors have contributed more than 147,000 hours of voluntary community service since the programme's founding.

 

Photo caption: Sands Cares Ambassadors help deliver sanitisation and emergency typhoon response kits to elderly community members with limited mobility June 9.

Photo caption: Each emergency kit contains a variety of anti-pandemic, disaster preparation, and emergency items inside a multi-functional waterproof bag, including a Rapid Antigen Test kit, facemasks, instant hand sanitising gel, wet wipes, disinfectant liquid, whistle, hand towel, adhesive tape, raincoat, flashlight, first aid pack, bottled water, biscuits, and a government emergency response leaflet with handy information for critical situations.