The City of St. Charles and the American Red Cross St. Louis Area Chapter are partnering to host the first-annual Community Heroes Day in St. Charles County. The event features a CPR training class, a blood donation drive and free presentations on disaster preparedness for young and old alike. Due to overwhelming public response during pre-registration, the CPR class from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. has reached maximum capacity with more than eighty participants. 

 

The City of St. Charles is the first of several municipalities in St. Charles County that will be hosting future Community Heroes Day on an annual basis, rotating the event location in various cities throughout St. Charles County. They are partnering with the Red Cross in an effort to help people prevent, prepare for and respond to disasters and emergencies.

 

At 2 p.m., Mayor Patti York of the City of St. Charles, St. Charles Fire Chief Ernie Rhodes and Brad Farber, American Red Cross supervisor of the St. Charles County Service Center, will be donating their blood.   The blood donation drive is open to the public between the hours of 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. People can walk in off the streets and give blood or pre-register online at https://www.givelife.org/index.cfm?group=op.      

 

 

 

The purpose of Community Heroes Day is to prepare people to save a life so they can become heroes and make their community a safer place to live in. 

 

Training is an essential step toward preparing for the unexpected. Each year, approximately 325,000 Americans die as a result of sudden cardiac arrest suffered outside the hospital setting – that’s about 900 American deaths every single day. Time is critical in life threatening emergencies. If oxygen doesn’t get to the brain within four to six minutes after breathing stops, permanent brain damage or death can occur. CPR is vital to getting oxygen to the brain once the heart stops beating.

 

Following the 5.2 magnitude earthquake last week and subsequent aftershocks, it’s in everyone’s best interest to make emergency preparedness a personal priority. The Red Cross has streamlined the preparedness process into three steps through the “Be Red Cross Ready” initiative: 1. Get a kit, 2. Make a plan, and 3. Be informed. The program introduces these three steps as an easy way for each individual to make a difference.  The public is encouraged to join other community members in making this happen. When we come together, we become something bigger than us all.

 

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 446,000 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.