Everyday American Red Cross St. Louis Area Chapter Youth Services staff go to schools all over the St. Louis Metro area. Often times we get to go to the same schools several times over the course of a year get to know the children, and hear their personal stories about how their family started to check their smoke detectors once a month, or what they did when they had a fire. One story in particular has stuck with me.

When I first began working in Youth Services I went to a school in the Normandy School District to give a Cool Cat presentation. The Cool Cat presentation teaches children what do to in the event of a fire and how they can prepare their family for home fires. While I was giving the presentation, a timid girl raised her hand to tell me a story. She said that she had seen me before. I did not recognize her and said that I might look like one of her mom’s friends, and maybe that is why she recognized me. She said no- I had come to her house when her house burned. Then I understood.

I volunteer with the Disaster Action Team and I must have gone to her house when she had a fire. I asked her how her family is and if she would mind telling the class what she did when there was a fire. She said that she had known what to do because a Red Cross “Lady”, as we are affectionately called, came to her school the previous year and so she knew she had to get out fast and call 911. It was incredible to hear how the Red Cross was there for this little girl first to prepare her for a home fire, then when the fire happened, and now we were back again.

I know the Red Cross has had a lasting impact on this little girl and her family and once again helped to save a life.