Red Cross Presents Lifesaver Community Award

to the Wentzville Public School District

Organization recognized for CPR and First Aid training, as well as AED placement

St. Louis, May 7, 2008 - Before a recent Board of Education meeting, the American Red Cross St. Louis Area Chapter presented the Lifesaver Community Award to the Wentzville Public School District, a 2007 recipient of Missouri’s Distinction in Performance Award.  A Red Cross Celebration Team, comprised of volunteers and staff, took part in a recognition event to celebrate Wentzville School District’s outstanding commitment to helping communities throughout St. Charles County prevent, prepare for and respond to emergencies.

The Lifesaver Community Award is an expansion of the Red Cross Lifesaver Program.  Whereas, the Lifesaver Program honors people who have saved a life, the Lifesaver Community Award Program is designed to honor corporations, municipalities and civic organizations for contributing to a safer community environment.  To receive this award, an organization must complete at least three of the following four qualifying criteria:  utilize Red Cross health and safety training for at least three years; train staff and constituents in CPR and First Aid on a regular basis; place Automated External Defibillators (AEDs) onsite; and conducting regular Red Cross blood drives.   

“The Wentzville Public School District  has partnered with the Red Cross by providing CPR and First Aid training classes to faculty and students for the past seven years and placing at least one lifesaving AED in each school building,” said Joseph C. White, chief executive officer for the American Red Cross St. Louis Area Chapter. “We commend the efforts of Wentzville school officials and encourage others in the community to follow their example.”

Details regarding Wentzville School District’s preparedness efforts include the following:

·          Began providing CPR and First Aid training classes to faculty and students in 2001 to prepare them for emergencies

·          As a Red Cross Authorized Provider, the school district has 12 certified Red Cross Instructors

·          Since January 2006, these 12 instructors have conducted nearly 60 training classes involving 450 staff and students

·          Two staff members have been honored through the Individual Lifesaver Award Program

·          The school district placed AEDs in every building in 2005, purchasing a total of 18 as of April 2008

·          Five schools stand ready to serve as Red Cross emergency shelter facilities

·          Within the past three years, the school district has hosted 17 blood drives, collecting 634 units of blood

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 for preparing themselves to respond in an emergency situation. Last year, the American Red Cross St. Louis Area Chapter trained more than 85,000 local residents in CPR and First Aid, including more than 15,000 in the use of AEDs. Since its inception in 1984, 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. In 2007, the St. Louis Area Chapter expanded the Lifesaver Award Program to include the new 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 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 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.