• Dave Couch(Defiance, MO) and Tom Martin (Washington, MO) - Dave Couch and Tom Martin, electricians at the AmerenUE Labadie Power Plant, saved the life of their coworker, Billy Heidbreder, when a piece of food lodged in his throat and blocked his airway for two minutes. Dave performed three abdominal thrusts, causing Billy to cough up some of the food. Tom saw Billy continued to struggle for air and gave three additional abdominal thrusts, dislodgingthe rest of the food and completely clearing Billy's airway. Billy made a full recovery.
• Benjamin Mathenia (Granite City, IL) ­- When Benjamin Mathenia, a first-grader at Frohardt Elementary School, saw his classmate gasping for air, he immediately went to help. A small toy had become lodged in Drake Wilson's throat, obstructing his airway. Ben pulled Drake out of his chair, faced him forward, and performed abdominal thrusts. In less than one minute, Ben had dislodged the toy from Drake's throat. Drake went to the nurse for a check-up, and was back in class the same day.
• Caleb Haynes (Fenton, MO) - A group of journalism students from Fox High School was returning from a field trip when classmate, Duy Huynh, began convulsing and his breathingbecame labored. Caleb Haynes immediately checked Duy's pulse, realized it was abnormally high and tilted Duy's head to open his airway. Caleb again checked Duy's pulse and found none. Caleb determined Duy needed rescue breathing and began giving rescue breaths. Finally, two minutes after Caleb administered those initial rescue breaths, Duy began to cough and breathe on his own. Shortly after, Duy regained consciousness and the ambulance arrived. Duy was hospitalized for just a few hours before the doctors released him.
• Marlene Vosholler (Highland, IL) - Jeannie Radford, a bus driver for First Student, was sitting inside her parked bus when she began choking on a piece of candy. Jeannie felt she could blackout at any moment. Jeannie knew she had to get help fast and hurried to the bus driver parked behind her, Marlene Vosholler. Marlene was alarmed at Jeannie's expression and asked her if she could talk. When Jeannie was unable to say a word, Marlene knew Jeannie was choking and performed two abdominal thrusts to dislodge the piece of candy. Jeannie quickly and fully recovered.
• Baylee Cook (Festus, MO) - Leslee Cook came home from a long day at work and told Baylee, her seven-year-old daughter, she was going to lie down for awhile. Baylee was concerned about her mom because she knew her mom was a diabetic. When Baylee went upstairs to check on her mom, she found her mom unresponsive and quickly went to get her father. He immediately administered the lifesaving medications needed to bring his wife back to consciousness. In just one minute after receiving the medications, Leslee was responsive. Leslee was able to make a speedy recovery and continues to do well.
• Roxanne Weller (Jerseyville, IL) - Roxanne Weller saved the life of a classmate at Illini Middle School. A group of eighth-grade students were talking and laughing at lunch, when one of Roxanne's classmates began to choke. A piece of food had lodged in her throat, blocking her airway and causing her face to turn blue. Roxanne immediately performed abdominal thrusts until the food dislodged. School officials immediately contacted the student’s parents. Since the student was able to breathe on her own, she returned to class. 
• Jaob Day (Arnold, MO) - Jacob Day and his brother, Nicholas, were riding the school bus when Jacob saw his brother put a quarter in his mouth. The quarter became lodged in Nicholas' throat, and he started to have trouble breathing. Jacob told his younger brother to cough repeatedly, and went to inform the bus driver of the situation. Jacob comforted his brother until they arrived at school where he escorted Nicholas to the nurse. The nurse immediately called 911 and school officials contacted the boys' father to let him know Nicholas was being transported to the hospital. Upon arriving at the hospital, the quarter became dislodged and Nicholas could breathe once again.
• Brenda Short (Park Hills, MO) - Brenda Short, an employee for the Missouri Department of Corrections, and her co-worker decided to eat at the Pasta House in Farmington, Missouri. When a young girl began gasping for air and pointing to her throat, Brenda immediately responded to the urgent situation. After only a few abdominal thrusts, the mint that was obstructing the girl’s airway dislodged. Though the young girl was very scared, she fully recovered.

The following citizen received the American Red Cross National Certificate of Merit:

• Kyle Henke (Maplewood, MO) - Kyle Henke, a lifeguard supervisor for Clayton Parks and Recreation, saved the life of a high school swim team member when he was notified the young swimmer was struggling to breathe. Kyle immediately hurried to help and summoned a lifeguard to call for emergency assistance. When the victim lost consciousness, Kyle checked her breathing to confirm it had stopped. Kyle quickly assembled a resuscitation mask, tilted the victim’s head back and administered a rescue breath. Immediately, the victim began coughing and opened her eyes. Kyle began kneading her hands to promote blood flow as emergency responders arrived on the scene to continue care.

About the Red Cross Lifesaver Program:
The Lifesaver Award program, sponsored by AAA, is designed to inspire people to get trained in First Aid and CPR by recognizing local citizens who prepared themselves to respond in an emergency situation. Last year, the Red Cross trained more than 82,000 people locally in CPR and First Aid, including more than 17,000 in the use of Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs). The Red Cross Lifesaver Program has honored nearly 400 St. Louis heroes. The program supports the Red Cross mission to help our communities prevent, prepare for and respond to disasters and emergencies.

About the National Certificate of Merit:
The National Certificate of Merit is bestowed by the American National Red Cross upon a person who saved or sustained a life as a direct result of Red Cross training. It is signed by the President of the United States, who traditionally serves as the Honorary Chairman of the American Red Cross. Since it was established in 1928, the Lifesaving Award of Merit has borne the signatures of 14 U.S. Presidents, including President George W. Bush, and nine Chairmen of the American National Red Cross Board of Governors.

About the American Red Cross St. Louis Area Chapter:
Founded in 1917, the American Red Cross St. Louis Area Chapter celebrates 91 years of dedicated service, providing emergency relief and preparedness training more than 446,600 times each year. The Red Cross is a charity, 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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