Event provided CPR training for 24 people and collected 29 units of blood

St. Louis, Thursday, August 2, 2007 - The City of Belleville and the American Red Cross recently partnered to host "Be a Belleville Lifesaving Hero Day" on Saturday, July 21 at Belleville West High School in Belleville, IL. 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 24 people in Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and to collect 29 units of blood.

"It was a privilege for the American Red Cross to partner with the City of Belleville for this important event," said Joseph C. White, CEO of the American Red Cross St. Louis Area Chapter. "It is our hope that other cities in both Missouri and Illinois will follow Belleville's lead by joining the effort to encourage area citizens to personally prepare for the unexpected. Seeking training in CPR, First Aid, and disaster preparedness, as well as giving the gift of life through blood donation, are great ways to make the entire metropolitan area a safer place for all."

About American Red Cross Blood Donation:
Blood is needed in times of emergency, but the ongoing need is also great. The American Red Cross and patients throughout the region are especially in need of blood donors during the summer season. While school is on break, ball games are in season, and vacations are planned, a dip in available blood levels typically occurs. Every two seconds, someone in America needs a blood transfusion - cancer patients, accident victims, premature infants, and people with chronic diseases. During times of crisis and every single day, each blood donation has the power to help save as many as three lives.

"Lifesaving Hero Day is a great opportunity to inform the general public about being ready when an emergency hits close to home," said David A. Chumley, CEO of the American Red Cross Missouri-Illinois Blood Services Region. "The partnership with the City of Belleville reinforces what we teach everyday - the best way to handle an emergency situation is to be ready before the situation happens. Those in attendance learned the vital role they play in helping save lives."

About American Red Cross CPR Training:
Training is an essential step toward preparing for the unexpected. In support of its lifesaving mission to help the community prevent, prepare for and respond to disasters and emergencies, the American Red Cross offers a variety of training courses to the public. Each year, the St. Louis Area Chapter trains over 85,000 people in lifesaving CPR and First Aid, including more than 15,300 people in the proper use of Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs). At the special event in Belleville, training was available at a discounted price of $10 (a value of $45).

About Red Cross Community Disaster Education:
The American Red Cross St. Louis Area Chapter offers free Community Disaster Education presentations designed for all ages. These courses are provided on-site for schools, businesses and community organizations. Presentations can be tailored to meet specific needs and prepare participants for a variety of emergency scenarios - from home fires, winter storms, earthquakes and tornados to thunderstorms, floods and pandemic flu. Course curriculum is interactive, empowers participants to be proactive in their approach to preparing for the unexpected, and is featured online at www.redcrossstl.org. More than 72,000 St. Louisans benefit from these presentations each year.

Mayor Mark W. Eckert of the City of Belleville adds, "The City of Belleville was very pleased to participate with the American Red Cross at our recent Lifesaving Hero Day. Belleville appreciates all of the American Red Cross services, including supplying blood to our hospitals, providing emergency training, and especially working together to prepare for any unexpected disaster. We look forward to continuing to strengthen our partnership."

For More Information:
To learn more about the "Be a Belleville Lifesaving Hero Day" or Red Cross programs and services, please contact the American Red Cross at 314.516.2800 or log on to 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.

# # #