Sands China Helps Community Prepare for Natural Disasters and Emergencies
2023 Sands Cares Disaster Preparation & Emergency Response Kit Program
(Macao, Jun 26, 2023) – Sands China recently ran its 2023 Sands Cares Disaster Preparation & Emergency Response Kit Program in collaboration with Macau Red Cross and with the support of the Social Affairs Bureau.
The program is an initiative by Sands China to help enhance the community's precautionary measures before natural disasters and during emergency situations. It is the fifth consecutive year that Sands China has worked with the Macau Red Cross on this meaningful program, benefiting a total of 4,400 households in need to date.
This year's initiative consisted of packing and distributing the kits, a social media campaign, and parent-child workshops.
Sands China Ltd. President Dr. Wilfred Wong said: "Working with Macau Red Cross each year on this impactful initiative is very rewarding for everyone involved. The more the community is prepared for disasters and emergencies, the better we are able to protect ourselves and our loved ones during those difficult times. Our thanks go to our Sands Cares Ambassadors for volunteering their time, to Macau Red Cross for their collaboration, and to the Social Affairs Bureau for their support."
Addressing food security issues and supporting disadvantaged people are two primary focus areas of the global Sands Cares community engagement programme. In line with these priorities, Sands China is partnering with Caritas Macau to help alleviate hunger and poverty in Macao for this initiative. Additionally, Sands China has donated 960 kg of surplus bread items to local green enterprise Macau ECOnscious in support of its Macau Community Fridge initiative since 2022.
Emergency Response Kits
Around 40 Sands Cares Ambassadors helped assemble 1,500 emergency response kits at Macau Red Cross headquarters June 7-8.
The kits were customised to help the community better prepare for emergency situations, with items for disaster preparation, emergency situations, and personal health and safety. Each kit contains a variety of items inside a multi-functional waterproof bag, including a first aid pack, disinfectant wipes, whistle, flashlight, raincoat, KN95 facemasks, hand towel, adhesive tape, and a government emergency response leaflet with useful information about emergency shelters and disaster preparedness.
Additionally, a new, illustrated brochure was especially created for the program this year and added to the kit. The Disaster Preparedness Safety Guidelines brochure helps prepare residents for Macao's annual typhoons and flooding by consolidating practical educational content, such as measures to take before, during and after disasters, as well as hotlines to call in case of emergencies and to seek support.
The content of the kit was designed by Macau Red Cross based on its experience in disaster preparedness and relief, with the items sourced locally and donated by Sands China.
Sands China increased the number of kits assembled from 800 to 1,500 kits this year, and also broadened the distribution of the kits, further expanding the range of households benefiting from the program. The kits were distributed in early June, ahead of typhoon season, and reached 18 community and family service centres this year, compared to five associations last year.
Social Media Campaign
To help spread knowledge about the importance of being ready before natural disasters, Sands China ran a social media campaign June 12-18, called Sands Cares Presents: What you need to know about disaster preparation.
The campaign featured a mini game on the Sands Cares WeChat account aimed at further promoting the Sands Cares Disaster Preparation & Emergency Response Kit Program among the general public. Participants in the online quiz game had the chance to win lucky draw prizes after correctly answering the quiz questions. Winners were announced on June 20, with accommodation at The Parisian Macao and food and beverage vouchers as prizes.
Disaster Prevention Parent-Child Workshops
Sands Cares Ambassadors assisted with two disaster prevention parent-child workshops conducted by Macau Red Cross June 24, targeted at children 5-10 years of age and their parents.
Co-organised with Centro de Apoio Múltiplo à Família "Alegria em Harmonia" da Associação Geral das Mulheres de Macau, the interactive workshops attracted 100 attendees and covered topics like disaster prevention at home, emergency shelters, channels for receiving accurate disaster information, and an introduction to the Sands Cares emergency response kits, which the Sands Cares Ambassadors gave to each participating family.
Owen Wong, deputy director of disaster relief affairs for Macau Red Cross, said: "Although we cannot prevent natural disasters from occurring, we can certainly take measures to mitigate their impact. Macau Red Cross places great emphasis on providing effective disaster relief services on a daily basis. To achieve this goal, it is essential that we work proactively with different entities and social groups in the community in preparation for the next disaster."
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.
Photo caption: Each emergency response kit contains a variety of items inside a multi-functional waterproof bag, including a first aid pack, disinfectant wipes, whistle, flashlight, raincoat, KN95 facemasks, hand towel, adhesive tape, a new illustrated brochure, and a government emergency response leaflet with useful information about emergency shelters and disaster preparedness.
Photo caption: Guests get together at the disaster prevention parent-child workshop June 24 at Centro de Apoio Múltiplo à Família "Alegria em Harmonia" da Associação Geral das Mulheres de Macau.
Left to right: Choi Kin I, executive director of the Women's General Association of Macau; Annie Lam, director of community affairs of Sands China Ltd.; Chong Leng Leng, vice president and secretary general of the Women's General Association of Macau; Owen Wong, deputy director of disaster relief affairs for Macau Red Cross; Lao Iok Chu, director of the Women's General Association of Macau.