News

9/2/2007 - Family Loses Everything in Fire

An early morning fire destroyed the home of an Imperial family Tuesday. Stephen Orr of the Rock Community Fire Protection District said firefighters received the alarm to 2016 Derby Run Court in the Saddlebrook Farms subdivision around 4 a.m., and crews were advised that flames could already be seen through the roof.

8/30/2007 - 2007 Response to Midwest Storms and Flooding

The remnants of Tropical Storm Erin and a storm system in the Upper Midwest have combined to cause heavy flooding in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Ohio, Iowa, Texas, Oklahoma, and Missouri. At least 22 people have died and thousands of homes have been damaged, many beyond repair. Flood waters are receding in some areas, but heat advisories are being issued for parts of the Midwest, hindering many people from trying to return to their homes.

8/29/2007 - Response to Hurricane Dean

Hurricane Dean's forceful winds and rain swept across the Caribbean during Aug. 17-22, intensifying on its westward path. The storm caused damage in St. Lucia, Dominica, Martinique, Haiti, the Cayman Islands and Jamaica before hitting Mexico and Belize as a Category 5 hurricane. It traversed the Yucatan Peninsula, returned to the Gulf of Mexico, and struck Mexico for a second time on the East coast. Over land, Dean's power lessened, and it subsequently was downgraded to a tropical storm. During its voyage, Dean claimed an estimated 19 lives and destroyed the homes and livelihoods of thousands of families throughout the region.

8/29/2007 - Red Cross Honors Survivors of Hurricane Katrina

Two years ago, the gulf region was overcome by a rapid series of storms that caused devastation unlike any in this country’s history. The American Red Cross quickly responded to provide emergency assistance throughout the region. Today, the Red Cross remains dedicated to the recovery efforts along the Gulf Coast even as it responds to current emergency needs across the nation.

8/29/2007 - American Red Cross Defends Use of Emblem and Mission

In response to the August 8 lawsuit filed against it by Johnson & Johnson (J&J), the American Red Cross today released a detailed rebuttal, providing the legal and historical framework for its use of the red cross emblem.

8/28/2007 - CPR, First Aid and AED Training Saves Lives

The American Red Cross is here to help our communities prevent, prepare for and respond to disasters and emergencies. As part of that mission, the St. Louis Area Chapter trains more than 85,600 people in CPR and First Aid each year, including more than 15,300 people in the proper use of AEDs. Training is essential in preparing for the unexpected and the Red Cross offers a variety of educational opportunities in support of its lifesaving mission. Ryan Day and Dana Garner were recently interviewed by KJFF Radio (1400 AM) and encouraged listeners to make emergency preparedness a personal priority by getting trained through the Jefferson County Service Center, located at 3880 Jeffco Blvd. in Arnold.

8/22/2007 - Johnson & Johnson Sues Red Cross Over Use of Emblem

Johnson & Johnson, the world's biggest health-products company, has sued the American Red Cross and four of its licensing partners, claiming illegal use of a red cross emblem on first-aid kits and other emergency products. The Red Cross called the lawsuit "obscene" in a statement, saying Johnson & Johnson demands that it stop using the emblem, destroy existing products with the symbol and give the company all proceeds from the sale of red-cross kits. "The Red Cross products that Johnson & Johnson wants to take away from consumers and have destroyed are those that help Americans get prepared for life's emergencies," said Mark W. Everson, president and CEO of the American National Red Cross.

8/21/2007 - Red Cross Salutes Lifesavers

A Florissant teenager and two Overland police officers recently were recognized by the American Red Cross St. Louis Area Chapter for using their first aid and CPR training to save lives. Kimberly Boyd, 13, of Florissant, and Overland officers Brian Foster and James Kalinich were among six area residents receiving Lifesaver Awards from the Red Cross at a ceremony in Creve Coeur on July 23. The Lifesaver Award program, sponsored by AAA, is designed to inspire people to get trained in first aid and CPR.

8/13/2007 - Red Cross Honors Lifesaving Actions

Six "everyday" people recently received the Red Cross Lifesaver Award, including a girl from Florissant whose actions helped saved her father. The Red Cross recognized people who utilized their skills in CPR, first aid and the use of external defibrillators at a ceremony July 23. Also honored were Overland police officers Brian Foster and James Kalinich.

8/7/2007 - Family Grateful for Help After Fire

Robert Parton said he was touched by the support his family received after a fire destroyed their home on July 15. Within hours of the fire, the Parton family was offered a free, two-night stay in the Holiday Inn Express in Festus and a debit card courtesy of the Red Cross. Parton said several neighbors on Miller Drive in Crystal City offered his family clothing and food. Crystal City Assistant Fire Chief Tony Bova said the blaze was likely started by an electrical malfunction in the laundry room. Bova said the four-alarm fire gutted the house, destroying it.

8/2/2007 - One Year Later: Are We Better Prepared?

A year ago this week, the landscape of much of the Metro East was covered with fallen tree branches and leaves, snapped telephone poles and other scattered debris. Back-to-back storms had left people stranded in the dark, forcing families and the elderly to stay in emergency shelters or friends' homes to survive the sweltering heat without air conditioning. And while this summer has been relatively mild, there is no telling if and when another major storm could grace the horizon. According to a recent study of the St. Louis region by the American Red Cross, although the memories of last July remain strong, most residents are still not prepared in the event of an emergency.

8/2/2007 - Mom's Hero

The story of one of Alton's unassuming heroes starts with professional wrestling and a pretzel. Randy Weigler, 17, recently was honored by the St. Louis Area Chapter of the American Red Cross for saving the life of his mother, Barb Weigler. The teenager received training in CPR and the Heimlich maneuver less than two weeks before saving his mother's life. He was recognized July 23 with the agency's Lifesaver Award after being nominated by his Red Cross volunteer teacher, Mike Wood.

8/1/2007 - Seeing the Light

It was an ill wind that blew on July 19, 2006, followed by another two days later. Two thunderstorms a year ago left nearly 650,000 AmerenUE customers without electricity. Tens of thousands of North County residents were without power, some for as long as nine days. As the storms' anniversary approaches, groups seem more aware and focused on emergency preparedness. But just how well prepared they are may not be known until the next disaster strikes.

7/25/2007 - EDITORIAL: Personal Responsibility is Part of Storm Preparation

When it comes to emergency preparedness following last July's severe thunderstorms - and the sweeping power outages that followed them - it's a good-news, bad-news situation for the St. Louis region. The good news is that according to a recent poll, more St. Louis-area residents than last year say they're prepared for a disaster. The bad news is they represent fewer than half the respondents polled. Forty-seven percent of the respondents to the poll, conducted for the St. Louis Area Chapter of the American Red Cross, said they're prepared for a disaster.

7/24/2007 - Teacher Earns National Red Cross Award

Terri Ettling-Shell of O'Fallon, IL has received the Red Cross' National Certificate of Merit - the organization's most prestigious award given to someone for saving a child. In May, 2006, several children were swimming in Ettling-Shell's pool when one of them, Dylan Miller, accidentally stepped into the deep end. After pulling him out, she began cardiopulmonary resuscitation on Dylan and revived him after two rescue breaths. Ettling-Shell, who teaches special education at Cahokia High School, had been Red Cross-certified for CPR a month before the incident and has encouraged other teachers to get certified by the Red Cross.

7/21/2007 - Fire Sweeps Apartments - 10 ESL Families Homeless

About a dozen people were left homeless Thursday evening when a fire swept through an apartment building in the 600 block of North 10th Street in East St. Louis. The three-story, red-brick building was gutted by the fire, which East St. Louis firefighters believe may have started around 9 p.m. when a tenant used water on an electrical outlet in an attempt to put out an electrical fire. Ten families were homeless Thursday night but the Red Cross Disaster Action Team from Fairview Heights stepped in to make sure each family had somewhere to sleep and something to eat before the sun came up.

7/17/2007 - Prank Call to Military Spouse Puts Red Cross Into Action

As part of a disturbing prank, a military spouse received a call that her husband had been hurt while serving in Iraq and had been evacuated to a hospital in Germany. The caller, who identified herself as a representative of the American Red Cross, claimed that medical treatment was pending until paperwork was completed. All she needed was his social security number and date of birth. The spouse realized quickly that she was being scammed. The isolated incident was enough to swing the Red Cross into action to inform the public that only the Department of Defense notifies families of military casualites. The role of the Red Cross is communications and referral.

7/5/2007 - Girl's CPR Training Is a Real Lifesaver

Larry Boyd told his daughter Kimberly that something was wrong and then collapsed on the floor. Kimberly immediately called 911, and the emergency responder on the line asked her if she knew CPR. Fortunately, she did. CPR, or cardiopulmonary resuscitation, is a lifesaving technique used when breathing or heart function has stopped. CPR involves a combination of mouth-to-mouth breathing and chest compression that keeps blood flowing to the brain and other vital organs. Accredited courses teach CPR as part of first aid training. Kimberly had just finished a course offered by the American Red Cross.

7/5/2007 - Red Cross Raising Money for Remodeling Arnold Office

The American Red Cross hopes to raise $60,000 to recoup costs of a recent project at the Jefferson County Service Center, 3880 Jeffco Blvd., in Arnold. More classroom space was needed to accommodate students in Red Cross classes. A loading dock was revamped to allow emergency supplies to be more easily loaded and unloaded, and a storage area was constructed, freeing up additional space. Of the $60,000 fundraising goal, $18,400 will be spent on direct emergency assistance for local families.

6/29/2007 - Nurse Praises Emergency Benefits of Heart Machines

Karen Dix, a nurse at Wentzville's Timberland High School, was sitting in her office, across the hall from the faculty lounge. Lawrence Kiefer, a science teacher, was in the faculty lounge. He had just finished lunch with several other teachers. All of a sudden, he collapsed. Kiefer suffered cardiac arrest that nearly cost him his life. Dix said she was most thankful the school had an AED - a portable device that measures the electrical activity of the heart. Dix said she received a grant from the American Red Cross to purchase another AED, five mannequins and five AED training machines.

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.