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American Red Cross Presents Lifesaver Awards to Local Heroes

Lifesavers range from a paramedic and retired school teacher to a teenager and church pastor

ST. LOUIS, June 30, 2008 – The American Red Cross St. Louis Area Chapter hosted a special ceremony at its Creve Coeur headquarters to present Lifesaver Awards to local heroes representing communities throughout the bi-state region. These individuals were both young and old, and came from all walks of life. But all of them shared something in common. They were trained in First Aid and CPR, and prepared to save a life in an emergency situation.

The following people received the American Red Cross Lifesaver Award:

Kandice Klaves (St. Louis, MO) – Kandice was working as a paramedic for the St. Louis Fire Department when she responded to a 9-1-1 call at the Downtown YMCA. Upon her arrival, she found an unresponsive man in the men’s locker room. After placing the man on a heart monitor, his heart went from a normal rhythm to one of a rapid-paced heartbeat. About a minute later, the man started turning blue and went into cardiac arrest. With proper training, Kandice knew she needed to deliver a shock to the man’s chest using an Automated External Defibrillator (AED). The man was revived after one shock. While being transported to the hospital in an ambulance, the man again went into cardiac arrest. She revived him a second time with one shock using the AED. Because of the excellent care provided by Kandice, the man is alive today.
John Marco (St. Louis, MO) – While doing his daily rounds as a security officer at Saint Louis University, he rushed to the aid of a choking student in the Griesedieck Hall cafeteria. The student was sitting at a table with his face turning blue and he appeared to be throwing up. Because of his training, John immediately determined that something was blocking the student’s airway. He quickly pulled the student to his feet and began administering abdominal thrusts. After several attempts, the piece of food became dislodged and the student resumed normal breathing.
John Hogue (Wentzville, MO) – As a pastor of the Faith United Church of Christ, John learned First Aid and CPR in case he ever needed it. Little did he know he would later use these lifesaving skills to save his mother. One night after dinner, his mother went into the dining room to take her medicine. After putting one of the pills in her mouth, she began to choke. When John noticed his mother couldn’t breathe, he acted quickly. John stood behind his mom and did several abdominal thrusts. On the third thrust, the pill became dislodged from Mary’s throat and she regained her breathing. A few weeks later, he used his CPR skills to save the life of a parishioner until emergency personnel arrived.
Brandy Bates (Fenton, MO) – Brandy was walking down the hallway of Hancock Place Elementary School in the City of St. Louis as the school counselor when she encountered a teacher yelling for help. She quickly ran into the classroom and found a five-year-old boy who was gasping for air because a piece of candy was lodged in his throat. She quickly got behind the boy and performed abdominal thrusts until the candy was dislodged. The boy regained his breath and Brandy escorted him to the school nurse to make sure he was o.k.
Chris Wood (Fenton, MO) – Chris, a 16-year-old boy, was eating dinner with his grandfather one night. His grandfather suddenly started gasping for air like he had something stuck in his throat. Chris immediately took action by getting behind his grandfather, who was in a wheelchair, and performing abdominal thrusts. He also asked his sister to go get his dad and call 9-1-1. When his grandfather stopped breathing, Chris lifted him out of the wheelchair and laid him on the floor and began chest compressions. He continued compressions for about 15 minutes until the paramedics arrived. Thanks to Chris’ swift actions, his grandfather is alive today
Jay’la Jenkins (Belleville, IL) – When Jay’la, a nine-year-old attending High Mount School in Swansea, saw one of her schoolmates choking and gasping for air, she ran over to help. She stood behind the schoolmate and performed one abdominal thrust and called out for help. As it turned out, no other help was needed; Jay’la successfully dislodged the food from the schoolmate’s throat with one try. The schoolmate immediately began breathing normally again.
Derrionna Adams (East St. Louis, IL) – As Derrionna, age 12, was sleeping one night; her younger sister woke her up and complained about smoke in the house. Derrionna went to check on the problem and discovered that the house was quickly filling with smoke and flames. She immediately led her younger brother and sister to the primary exit from the second floor to the first floor, only to realize that it was blocked by flames and intense heat. So she took them by the hands and led them to a second-floor bedroom window and broke it. Derrionna first helped her sister through the window. When her younger brother discovered that other family members were safe, Derrionna helped him escape and saved herself.

The following citizen received the American Red Cross National Certificate of Merit:

Steve Tebow (O’Fallon, MO) – The training Steve received from taking a First Aid course was essential in preparing him for this emergency. Steve was vacationing with his wife, Terri, in Cancun, Mexico. Steve and Terri were eating in the restaurant of the Blue Bay Club with a couple they had just met a few days earlier on the trip. In the middle of dinner, Steve noticed that one of their new friends was in distress. He asked the woman if she could breathe, and she shook her head “no”, indicating that she was choking on a piece of food caught in her airway. Steve immediately placed himself in the proper position and administered several abdominal thrusts, one right after the other. His skillful actions forced the food to clear and the woman could breathe again. She was very thankful that Steve was there in her time of need.

About the Red Cross Lifesaver Program:

The Lifesaver Award program, sponsored by AAA, is designed to inspire people to get trained in First Aid and CPR by recognizing local citizens who prepared themselves to respond in an emergency situation. Last year, the Red Cross trained more than 82,000 people locally in CPR and First Aid, including more than 17,000 in the use of Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs). The Red Cross Lifesaver Program has honored nearly 400 St. Louis heroes. The program supports the Red Cross mission to help our communities prevent, prepare for and respond to disasters and emergencies.

About the National Certificate of Merit:

The National Certificate of Merit is bestowed by the American National Red Cross upon a person who saved or sustained a life as a direct result of Red Cross training. It is signed by the President of the United States, who traditionally serves as the Honorary Chairman of the American Red Cross. Since it was established in 1928, the Lifesaving Award of Merit has borne the signatures of 14 U.S. Presidents, including President George W. Bush, and nine Chairmen of the American National Red Cross Board of Governors.

About the American Red Cross St. Louis Area Chapter:
Founded in 1917, the American Red Cross St. Louis Area Chapter celebrates 91 years of dedicated service, providing emergency relief and preparedness training more than 446,600 times each year. The Red Cross is a charity, not a government agency, and depends on the efforts of thousands of volunteers and donors to provide a wide range of community support services, including disaster relief, first aid and CPR training, water safety, services to military personnel and support for blood services. The Chapter, a United Way agency, provides programs and services to St. Louis City, St. Louis County, St. Charles County and Jefferson County in Missouri, as well as Monroe, St. Clair (including Scott Air Force Base) and part of Madison County in Illinois. All disaster relief services are provided free of charge thanks to the generosity of the American people. To learn more about Red Cross programs, volunteer opportunities, and how you can help, contact the St. Louis Area Chapter at 314.516.2800 or www.redcrossstl.org.