The American Red Cross St. Louis Area Chapter is deploying four disaster relief workers to Los Angeles and San Diego, California to support the ongoing wildfire emergency relief effort spanning seven counties in Southern California. Roy Gillespie (St. Louis, MO), a Human Rights Commissioner with the Teamsters, is deploying on his fifth national assignment on behalf of the Red Cross. Gillespie is a Red Cross logistics expert and will be assisting with the organization of Labor Union members as a Labor Liaison for up to three weeks. Jessica Willingham (Kirkwood, MO), Executive Officer of the St. Louis Area Chapter, deployed yesterday and is currently on the ground in Los Angeles serving as a National Red Cross spokesperson. Larry Boyer (O'Fallon, MO) and Mike Wood (Granite City, IL), two long-time Red Cross volunteers, will deploy in the Chapter's Emergency Response Vehicle (ERV). Boyer and Wood will serve meals and assist with logistics.

A team of volunteers and staff from the American Red Cross presented the Lifesaver Community Award to Bunge North America on Tuesday. During the onsite event, the Red Cross commended Bunge North America for its outstanding commitment to emergency preparedness.

The Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri have been recognized by the American Red Cross with the Lifesaver Community Award. During an onsite award presentation at their Leadership Academy/Representative Assembly on this past Saturday, the Girl Scouts received the award for reaching over 37,500 people with CPR, first aid and water safety training in 2006-2007. In addition, the Red Cross saluted the organization for placing lifesaving equipment onsite in an ongoing effort to prepare for emergency situations.

The American Red Cross presented its Lifesaver Community Award to Bryan Cave, LLP on Friday afternoon for training its employees in First Aid and CPR on a regular basis and for placing emergency equipment onsite throughout its facilities. To celebrate Bryan Cave's outstanding commitment to helping its employees and the greater community prevent, prepare and respond to emergencies, a Red Cross Celebration Team took part in today's onsite recognition event.

The American Red Cross partnered with the City of St. Louis to host "Community Heroes Day" on Saturday, September 29 on the campus of Harris-Stowe State University. During the event, the public was invited to take three steps to become a lifesaving hero - 1. Donate blood, 2. Learn CPR, and 3. Prepare for disasters. The event enabled the Red Cross to train 68 people in CPR, 16 people in disaster preparedness, and to collect 21 units of lifesaving blood.

Fires kill more Americans each year than all natural disasters combined. For that reason, the American Red Cross St. Louis Area Chapter urges families to develop a fire escape plan and to actively practice it. Knowing and practicing fire escape plans is the focus of this year's National Fire Prevention Week, set for October 7 - 13.

The American Red Cross St. Louis Area Chapter presented its Lifesaver Community Award to Mayor Robert G. Lowery, Sr. on behalf of the City of Florissant during an onsite award presentation this week. The city received this special recognition for implementing lifesaving Red Cross training in CPR, First Aid, and water safety; for utilizing the Red Cross Aquatic Examiner Service to uphold the highest standards of water safety at each of its facilities; and for hosting regular blood drives onsite.

Each year, more than 82,000 St. Louisans receive free training in disaster preparedness from the American Red Cross St. Louis Area Chapter. Community Disaster Education presentations are designed for all ages and are tailored for a variety of emergency scenarios - from home fires, winter storms, earthquakes and tornadoes to thunderstorms, floods and pandemic flu. A recent local preparedness study indicates that most St. Louisans are not prepared for a disaster, and the Red Cross has issued safety tips throughout National Preparedness Month (September) to encourage the public to make emergency preparedness a personal priority.

In September, the American Red Cross celebrates 90 years of significant contributions made by youth volunteers in support of the Red Cross mission to help the community prevent, prepare for and respond to disasters and emergencies. President Woodrow Wilson first established the Junior Red Cross in September of 1917, soon after the United States entered World War I, allowing youth to do their part in times of both war and peace.

On Thursday during an onsite award presentation, the American Red Cross St. Louis Area Chapter presented its Lifesaver Community Award to Peabody Energy for training its employees in First Aid and CPR on a regular basis and for placing emergency equipment onsite throughout its facilities. A Red Cross Celebration Team, comprised of volunteers and staff, took part in the recognition event to celebrate Peabody's outstanding commitment to helping its employees, constituents and the greater community to prevent, prepare for and respond to emergencies.

In conjunction with National Preparedness Month (September), the American Red Cross St. Louis Area Chapter has released its third-set of weekly safety tips to focus on reducing hazards in the home, school and workplace. The fourth-annual National Preparedness Month closely follows the release of a local Red Cross survey that indicates many St. Louisans have been affected by an emergency, yet most have not prepared for the next disaster.

The American Red Cross Jefferson County Service Center dispatched a Disaster Action Team to a house explosion in the 1900-block of Raintree Drive in Imperial, MO on Friday morning. Red Cross volunteers provided assistance on the scene, and caseworkers are supporting the recovery effort of three people (two adults and one child) displaced by the incident.

During an onsite award presentation this week, the American Red Cross presented its Lifesaver Community Award to St. Louis County Parks and Recreation. The award was bestowed upon the county for implementing lifesaving Red Cross training in CPR, First Aid, Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) and water safety. In addition, the award recognizes the county for utilizing the Red Cross Aquatic Examiner Service to uphold the highest standards of water safety at each of its facilities, for placing AEDs in county buildings, and for hosting regular blood drives onsite.