News

6/29/2007 - AEDs Can Save Lives When Hearts Stop

We hear a lot about cardiovascular health and the risk of heart attack and stroke. Yet more than 1,000 people die each day because their heart stops with no warning or prior sign of heart disease. This is known as sudden cardiac arrest, and only one in 20 people survive it. Of the nearly 300,000 Americans who die from sudden cardiac arrest every year, the American Red Cross estimates that more than 50,000 could be saved by the use of automated external defibrillators (AEDs).

6/27/2007 - Red Cross Offers Emergency Services for U.S. Troops

The American Red Cross cares about military personnel and their families and is here to serve as an important resource during times of need. Omar Ruiz of the Jefferson County Service Center and Nicole Holtgrefe of the St. Louis Area Chapter provided an overview of Red Cross Armed Forces Emergency Services during an interview June 8 on KJFF Radio (1400 AM). Ruiz and Holtgrefe also warned listeners about a new scam targeting spouses of deployed members of the Armed Forces.

6/25/2007 - Scam Hits the Home Front

Military spouses are being warned to beware of anyone calling to inform them their spouse has been injured in the line of duty. According to the Red Cross, a family recently received a telephone call from someone identifying herself as a representative of the American Red Cross. The caller, who was described as young sounding with an American accent, said that the spouse's husband was hurt while on duty in Iraq and was evacuated to a hospital in Germany. The caller then said medical treatment could not be started until paperwork was completed, and to start the paperwork they needed the spouse to verify her husband's Social Security number and date of birth. Only the U.S. Department of Defense notifies family members of military casualties.

6/18/2007 - Students Provide Comfort After a Crisis

Two groups of area high school students recently helped make a difference in the lives of those affected by a tragedy. The American Red Cross Metro East Service Center in Fairview Heights recently coordinated two groups from the Red Cross YouthCorps programs at Belleville West High School and O'Fallon High School to make 223 "comfort kits" for the Red Cross. Comfort kits are boxes of hygiene supplies given to families who have recently lost a home to fire. Supplies include washcloths, soap, shampoo and more.

6/18/2007 - Experts Provide Tips on Preventing Water-Related Accidents

According to Joyce Bathke, executive officer of health and safety services for the St. Louis Chapter of the American Red Cross, realizing that water and electricity don't mix is only one of many issues people need to be aware of when near their swimming pool. Officials recommend that families begin getting their child in a swimming program to get them familiar and accustomed with the water as early as six months, and to start taking actual lessons at around 4 years old. Each year, the Red Cross trains over 42,000 individuals in the St. Louis area on basic water safety tips and trains more than 90 percent of the lifeguards in the United States. During Red Cross training sessions, the No. 1 rule is making sure there is a lifeguard on duty or a parent supervising, even if a child has a flotation device or inflatable toy.

6/13/2007 - Damage Control After the Storm

Judy Alferman of Kirkwood, an American Red Cross volunteer, recently took part in disaster-relief efforts following a devastating tornado that struck May 4 in Greensburg, Kan. The tornado destroyed 95 percent of the town, killed 10 people and left most residents without homes. In response to the tornado's devastation, the American Red Cross asked for volunteers from across the country. Alferman arrived May 7 in the town and was able to see the damage firsthand.

6/1/2007 - Local Red Cross Helps Fight Measles in Africa

The American Red Cross is not only committed to solving problems locally but internationally as well. To increase awareness about the need for measles vaccinations in Africa and South Asia, and to raise the necessary funds to save children's lives, the American Red Cross St. Louis Area Chapter is very involved in the Measles Initiative. To educate the community on the importance of the Measles Initiative, the Red Cross recently hosted a lecture by Dr. Samuel Katz, world-renowned co-developer of the measles vaccine which is currently being used world-wide.

5/30/2007 - Red Cross Launches Major Corporate Partnership

The American Red Cross featured a major new partnership during a recent KJFF Radio interview with Omar Ruiz, the supervisor of the Jefferson County Service Center in Arnold. The St. Louis Area Chapter, Grainger and Anheuser-Busch recently launched "Ready When the Times Comes," a new program designed to recruit and train corporate employees to serve as Red Cross volunteers during a large-scale, local disaster. During the interview, Ruiz discussed the program in depth, provided an overview of Red Cross emergency services and discussed the recent deployment of local Red Cross volunteers to Kansas and South Dakota.

5/16/2007 - Red Cross Receives $20,000 from Energizer

The American Red Cross St. Louis Area Chapter said Tuesday that it received a $20,000 gift from Energizer Holdings for its disaster preparedness and emergency response services. The total includes $10,000 in funding for community disaster education presentations and $10,000 in products for response to local emergencies, according to a release. Last year, the nonprofit's local chapter trained 72,000 people through its community disaster education program.

5/15/2007 - Red Cross to Launch Corporate Volunteerism Program

The American Red Cross St. Louis Area Chapter plans to announce a new program Saturday to recruit and train corporate partners as local Red Cross volunteers before a disaster strikes the metropolitan area. The local Red Cross chapter has joined with distribution firm Grainger and St. Louis-based brewer Anheuser-Busch Cos. Inc. (NYSE:BUD) on the "Ready When the Time Comes" training program. The program is designed to help the Red Cross quickly mobilize volunteers for deployment in the event of a large-scale local disaster.

5/7/2007 - Red Cross Aims for 250 New Volunteers

The American Red Cross is trying to recruit and train hundreds of volunteers before the next disaster strikes the metro area. With the help of a $1 million grant from Grainger, an Illinois-based distribution firm, the Red Cross has set up the "Ready When the Time Comes" program in St. Louis and 15 other American cities. The St. Louis Area Chapter of the Red Cross announced the local initiative Saturday at St. Raphael the Archangel School in south St. Louis. The school is one of 600 sites designated as emergency shelters across seven counties in the St. Louis area.

4/30/2007 - Red Cross Highlights Senior Adult Services in County

The American Red Cross is here to help our community prevent, prepare for and respond to disasters and emergencies. As part of that lifesaving mission, the Red Cross reaches out to senior adults in the community with programs and services that are tailored to meet their needs. On April 13 during an interview with KJFF - 1400 AM Radio, Omar Ruiz of the Jefferson County Service Center joined Jean Romine from the St. Louis Area Chapter to highlight the Lifeline program, disaster preparedness presentations for seniors, and the Family Caregiving program.

4/24/2007 - Francis Howell, You are a Lifesaver

To the American Red Cross, the Francis Howell School District is a "lifesaver." The organization on March 29 gave the district it's Lifesaver Community Award for training employees in emergency response and installing automated external defibrillators in every school. District nurses received recognition during the ceremony for the role they played. The district annually trains more than 300 employees in CPR, first aid and defibrillator operation. The district requires all incoming freshmen to become certified in CPR. Seven employees are trained Red Cross curriculum instructors. The district hosts multiple blood drives in all schools each year.

4/19/2007 - Volunteerism: Helping Hands

National Volunteer Week is a good time to thank those who give of themselves unselfishly. It also is a good time to consider rolling up your sleeves and joining in. An estimated 61 million Americans performed volunteer work last year, according to the Corporation for National and Community Service. That's more than a quarter of the nation's population. Volunteer rates here are higher than the national average - 32 percent in Missouri and 29 percent in Illinois - according to a recent report. That's great news. But the need for volunteers is ongoing. Among the more than 40,000 residents in Missouri and Illinois who volunteer for the United Way of Greater St. Louis and its member agencies are people like Amit Shintre, 17, a Parkway North High School student, who helped form an American Red Cross Club at his school. He has recruited club members, written articles for the YouthCorps newsletter and led planning efforts for YouthCorps service projects and events.

4/11/2007 - Efficiency is Aim of Improvements to County Service Center

To better serve Jefferson County residents, the St. Louis Area Chapter of the American Red Cross wants to raise $60,000 for improvements to the Jefferson County Service Center and for local disaster relief services. Improvements to the center, located at 3880 Jeffco Blvd. in Arnold, will include new classroom space, indoor and outdoor signage, chairs, tables, other furniture and a washer and dryer. The estimated costs for these projects total $41,600, and work on the center is already underway. The other $18,400 will be designated for disaster relief, including food, clothing, shelter and counseling.

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