Back Those honored include professionals trained to respond in emergencies, such as 911 dispatchers, police officers, EMS, and firefighters, as well as good Samaritans like co-workers, family, and students. The 2003 Lifesaver Award honorees include: Jim and Lisa Avery of Clayton and Dottie Biggar of Ladue for the Good Samaritan Lifesaver Award Movie theater ticket-taker Dan Crowley of Chesterfield was lucky three good Samaritans decided to see a movie at the Plaza Frontenac Cinema on Oct. 12, 2002. Dan was on a 10-minute break and had just started eating a hot dog when he realized he was choking. Before he knew what was happening, he fell, hitting his head and losing consciousness. Lisa and Jim Avery and Dottie Biggar were in line to buy tickets when they overheard another moviegoer tell the salesperson that the ticket-taker was experiencing a medical emergency and to call 911. Dottie, Lisa, and Jim immediately rushed to help Dan. Dan had no pulse and was not breathing, so they tried to open his jaw to clear his airway but it was clenched closed. Desperately trying to get air into his lungs, Dottie began mouth-to-nose rescue breathing while Lisa and Jim continued to try to clear the airway and began performing chest compressions. Dan was turning blue with no signs of life when his jaw finally relaxed. Jim tried the abdominal thrust again – this time with success. Lisa was able to reach and remove the obstruction in Dan’s throat. With his airway clear, his lifesavers were able to give mouth-to-mouth resuscitation along with chest compressions. Dan’s heart soon started to beat again. He was breathing on his own when EMS arrived. Thanks to the quick thinking and skilled actions of his three lifesavers, Dan has made a full recovery and is thankful that his heroes had the skills to save his life. Gabriell Pernell of St. Louis for the Youth Good Samaritan Lifesaver Award In the early morning hours of Jan. 6, 2002, 11-year-old Gabriell Pernell was awakened by a friend who spent the night at her home. When her friend said she was really hot, Gabriell realized that the house was full of smoke and one of the bedrooms down the hall was blazing. Without hesitation, Gabriell struggled to wake up her four siblings, quickly leading all the children out of the house into the backyard. Realizing her parents were still inside, Gabriell then ran back inside to wake her mother and father who were fast asleep at the other end of the house. Gabriell’s quick thinking and bravery not only saved the lives of her family but also helped prevent the family from losing their home. Officer Von Vogt and Sergeant Dave Bedsworth of St. Peters for the Police Officer Lifesaver Award Officer Von Vogt and Sgt. Dave Bedsworth of the St. Peters Police Department are accustomed to critical situations, but they learned how vital it is to have lifesaving equipment when they answered the call to the O’Connor home on May 22, 2002. Remembering he had an automatic external defibrillator unit in his car, Officer Vogt intercepted a radio call for an immediate responder for a cardiac arrest victim. He was on the scene in less than one minute. Finding Don O’Connor in full cardiac arrest, Officer Vogt immediately used the AED to begin the life-saving process. Sgt. Bedsworth arrived moments later and the two men performed CPR until the EMS crew arrived. Captain Larry Roberts and Maryland Heights Protection District “C Shift” for the Firefighter Lifesaver Award On the morning of May 14, a large section of the Acme Brick Company collapsed, injuring and trapping a contractor under tons of debris. Even though the pile of rubble was unstable, Captain Larry Roberts began to immediately work to free the victim. At great personal risk due to a possible secondary collapse, Capt. Roberts began removing debris before shoring had been secured. He tunneled up and under the collapsed structure to reach the employee, clearing a way for other firefighters and paramedics to gain better access. Because of his work, the employee was freed just 37 minutes after the emergency responders had been dispatched. Many other firefighters and paramedics responded to the scene that day, each a member of “C Shift” and each contributing to the rescue of the victim. From the efficient staging of equipment, shoring of the building, debris removal, and coordination of patient care, “C Shift” worked as a team to ensure a quick and successful rescue. Albina Amaral of North Central County Fire Alarm dispatching service for the 911 Dispatcher Lifesaver Award In early July 2002, Dispatcher Albina Amaral received a call from a young man who thought his girlfriend had miscarried their child. As Albina took control and began to give instructions it became apparent that the situation was far more complicated – the baby had actually been delivered prematurely. The mother was bleeding heavily and the umbilical cord was still attached. Albina realized the baby was still alive and instructed the caller to tie off the umbilical cord and wrap the baby in warm covers. EMS arrived soon after, airlifting the premature baby to St. Louis Children’s Hospital and rushing the mother to a local hospital. Mom and dad will celebrate their baby’s first birthday this July. Rose Mary Robertson of St. Louis for the Workplace Safety Lifesaver Award Ten-year-old Lamont Slaughter was sitting with friends and eating lunch in the Belridge Elementary School cafeteria when he took a bite of his sandwich and a chunk of meat lodged in his throat. He grabbed his throat and couldn’t answer when his schoolmates asked what was wrong. The children thought he was joking around, but one child ran to get Rose Mary Robertson, a playground and lunchroom aide. Rose Mary knew something was desperately wrong as soon as she saw Lamont. His eyes were bulging, his body was limp, and his breath was so faint that she could barely hear it. Without hesitation, Rose Mary wrapped her arms around Lamont’s middle and gave him three abdominal thrusts. Rose Mary dislodged the meat and Lamont started breathing again. Today, Lamont is a happy, thriving fourth grader who gives Rose Mary a big hug whenever he sees her. Karen and J.D. Ives of Maine, Illinois for the Animal Rescue Lifesaver Award After seeing an injured animal by the road, Karen Ives and her son J.D. knew they had to help. “Lucky” – as they would later name the dog – had been hit by a car and suffered from a broken pelvis. The dog was dangerously close to being struck again when the Ives rescued the dog and took her to an animal shelter. At the shelter, Karen and J.D. were told that Lucky’s injuries were too serious and she’d probably be put to sleep if her owners didn’t claim her soon. Determined to keep Lucky alive, Karen and J.D. took her to the Animal Emergency Center, paying for all of her care and then bringing her into their home for two weeks before her owners were found. Lucky, whose real name is TeeTee, was safely returned to her owners. Today, she’s back to being her playful self. Charles "Joe" Kovac, Jr. of South St. Louis for the Blood Donor Lifesaver Award Charles "Joe" Kovac, Jr. started saving lives in 1962 when he was watching the 10 o’clock news and an urgent appeal for blood went out to the public after a dust explosion and fire killed three people and injured 40 others, including a number of St. Louis firefighters. Joe wanted to help right away and went down to the Red Cross that very night to donate blood. Joe’s been giving blood ever since – four or more pints a year. To date he has donated 118 pints - almost 15 gallons. For the last three years, he has donated six times a year – the maximum number of times a donor can give. He coordinates the blood drives for his church in South County, too, inspiring, encouraging, and challenging thousands of others to regularly give the gift of life. This year’s program is sponsored by AT&T Wireless, Drury Hotels, Enterprise Rent-A-Car Foundation, Fleishman-Hillard International Communications, Nestle Purina PetCare, Peabody Energy, Pedro’s Planet, Inc., State Farm, and Target Stores. The American Red Cross St. Louis Area Chapter also acknowledges and thanks All-Star Distributing and Mid-Town Printing. About the American Red Cross St. Louis Area Chapter Founded in 1917, the American Red Cross St. Louis Area Chapter provides emergency and preparedness assistance more than 354,000 times each year. The Red Cross depends on the efforts of 14,700 volunteers and 150 staff to provide a wide range of community support services, including disaster relief, first aid and CPR training, water safety, adult daytime professional care, services to military personnel, assistance to homeless families, and support for blood services. The Chapter 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, and part of Madison County in Illinois.

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