City recognized for CPR, First Aid and water safety training, as well as hosting blood drives

St. Louis, Tuesday, September 25, 2007 - The American Red Cross St. Louis Area Chapter presented its Lifesaver Community Award to Mayor Robert G. Lowery, Sr. on behalf of the City of Florissant during an onsite award presentation this week. The city received this special recognition for implementing lifesaving Red Cross training in CPR, First Aid, and water safety; for utilizing the Red Cross Aquatic Examiner Service to uphold the highest standards of water safety at each of its facilities; and for hosting regular blood drives onsite.

"The City of Florissant was the first municipality to partner with the Red Cross to host Community Heroes Day - a unique event that provides the public an opportunity to learn CPR and give the gift of life through blood donation," said Joseph C. White, chief executive officer for the American Red Cross St. Louis Area Chapter. "Over the years, Florissant has been a leader in emergency preparedness by implementing a number of valuable Red Cross programs, and we thank them for their ongoing commitment to public safety."

A Red Cross Celebration Team, comprised of volunteers and staff, took part in recognizing Florissant's dedication to helping prevent, prepare for and respond to emergencies. Certificates were presented to Ben Eye and Don Schmidt , who are certified by the Red Cross to provide lifesaving training.

Details regarding the City of Florissant's preparedness efforts include the following:

• Became the first municipality to partner with the Red Cross to host Community Heroes Day - a unique opportunity for the public to receive CPR training and donate blood.
• In December 2006, provided a large facility for a 24-hour Red Cross emergency shelter following severe weather and extended power outages.
• Trained more than 530 people in lifeguard training and bloodborne pathogens education over the past two years.
• Provided Learn-to-Swim training for more than 125 people of all ages in 2006 and 2007.
• Since 1993, has contracted the American Red Cross to conduct unannounced onsite evaluations at each of its pools as part of the Aquatic Examiner Service.
• Participated in the annual American Red Cross Lifeguard Competition for 11 years, winning a number of awards, including first place overall. The Mark Finley Award was created in memory of a Florissant lifeguard to recognize all-around excellence in water safety.
• Supported blood donation by hosting Red Cross blood drives onsite, collecting more than 40 units over the past two years.

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 Award bestowed upon the City of Florissant, or the programs and services provided by the American Red Cross, please call 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.

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