Parks and Recreation team recognized for training, AED placement, and blood drive support

St. Louis, Friday, September 14, 2007 - During an onsite award presentation this week, the American Red Cross St. Louis Area Chapter 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.

"St. Louis County is a leader in preparing the region for an emergency situation," said Joseph C. White, chief executive officer for the American Red Cross St. Louis Area Chapter. "The Parks and Recreation team is especially deserving of the Lifesaver Community Award and we hope that many people will be inspired to seek training and give blood as a result of St. Louis County's example."

A Red Cross Celebration Team, comprised of volunteers and staff, took part in the recognition event to celebrate St. Louis County's outstanding commitment to helping the greater community prevent, prepare for and respond to emergencies. Certificates were presented to the following St. Louis County Parks and Recreation instructors, who are certified by the Red Cross to provide lifesaving training: Kathy Ogan, Shaun Dulz, Tim Emmons, Brian Schaffer, Tonya O'Connell, Betsy Asadorian, Kyle Fetick, and Lindsey Lambert.

Details regarding St. Louis County's preparedness efforts include the following:

• Implemented health and safety training for more than 10 years. In the last two years alone, the County has trained over 160 people in lifeguarding, bloodborne pathogens, CPR, First Aid and AEDs.
• Maintains at least eight health and safety instructors trained by the Red Cross.
• Prepared for a cardiac emergency by placing six AEDs throughout county facilities.
• Began utilizing the Red Cross Aquatic Examiner Service more than 10 years ago, contracting with the St. Louis Area Chapter to conduct three exams at four pools each year (12 total).
• Hosts the annual Red Cross Lifeguard Competition at Queeny Park and provides facilities for Red Cross Learn-to-Swim courses each year.
• Hosted 21 blood drives, collecting over 950 units of blood since 2005.

The Lifesaver Community Award is an expansion of the Red Cross Lifesaver Program and is designed to honor corporations, municipalities and civic organizations for contributing to a safer community environment. Award criteria includes utilizing Red Cross health and safety training for at least three years, training employees in CPR and First Aid on a regular basis, placing Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) onsite, and conducting regular Red Cross blood drives.

About the Red Cross Lifesaver Program:
The Lifesaver Award Program, sponsored by AAA, is designed to inspire others to get trained in First Aid and CPR by recognizing local citizens who prepared themselves to respond in an emergency situation. Last year, the American Red Cross St. Louis Area Chapter trained more than 85,000 people locally in CPR and First Aid, including more than 15,000 in the use of AEDs. Since 1984, the Red Cross Lifesaver Program has honored more than 325 St. Louis heroes. The program supports the Red Cross mission to help our communities prevent, prepare for and respond to disasters and emergencies. In 2007, the St. Louis Area Chapter expanded the Lifesaver Award Program to include the Lifesaver Community Awards.

For More Information:
To learn more about the Lifesaver Community Awards or the programs and services provided by the American Red Cross, please contact the St. Louis Area Chapter at 314.516.2800 or www.redcrossstl.org.

About the American Red Cross Missouri-Illinois Blood Services Region:
The American Red Cross is a humanitarian, non-profit organization founded in 1881. The Red Cross collects almost half of the nation's blood supply. The Missouri-Illinois Region annually distributes over 500,000 blood products to patients in need. The Region's headquarters and National Testing Lab are located in St. Louis and currently stands ready to serve over 120 hospitals in 122 counties and operates four distribution centers. The Red Cross relies on the generosity of volunteer blood donors to maintain a safe and adequate blood supply all year long. To find out more about the American Red Cross Missouri-Illinois Blood Services Region, please call 1-800 GIVE LIFE (448.3543), or log onto www.americanredcrossblood.org.

About the American Red Cross St. Louis Area Chapter:
Founded in 1917, the American Red Cross St. Louis Area Chapter celebrates 90 years of dedicated service, providing emergency relief and preparedness training more than 410,000 times each year. The Red Cross is 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.

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