Great Things Every Day... - American Red Cross of the Quad Cities ...

Heroes don’t necessarily wear capes – but heroes do save lives. The
American Red Cross is the community’s leader in training heroes to lead safer,
healthier lives and change the outcomes of potentially fatal situations. In the past
year, the American Red Cross of the Quad Cities Area trained 17,325 individuals
in lifesaving CPR, First Aid, and Automated External Defibrillator (AED). In
partnership with community aquatic facilities, 12,576 individuals were trained in
learn-to-swim, lifeguarding, and water safety instruction classes.
Since 2002, the Red
Cross has trained 427 members of
Laborers’ Local Union No. 309. Brad
Long, Business Manager, says, “Safety is our
number one concern and the Red Cross training
programs have exceeded our expectations as a partner
in meeting our safety requirements.”
Labor Union members have used the skills
they learned in First Aid and CPR training to assist
co-workers on the job. Recently, a worker suffered
sudden cardiac arrest and his co-worker, who
completed Red Cross training, knew the proper steps
to take and was able to assist him until paramedics
arrived.
“I started giving blood when I was in
the service. I’ve given 25 gallons over
30 years. Giving blood is a good
thing to do - it can save lives.”
- Ted Canellos, Neponset, IL
Tuesday:
Tuesday:
Health Health & & Safety
Safety
Services
Services
During Red Cross Month in March, Family
Safety Day was held at Northpark Mall, providing
thousands of Quad City residents with free health
screenings, demonstrations, and information. In
September, a health and safety fair was also held at
Century Woods Apartment Complex in Rock Island,
providing residents access to free products and
services.
Our chapter also educated 1,752 people in
HIV/AIDS awareness and education and provided
512 residents with free blood pressure checks to
prevent stroke, heart attack, heart failure, and kidney
failure.
Wednesday:
Wednesday:
Blood Blood Services
Services
A patient’s need for blood knows no borders. Operating the largest, most
advanced research laboratory in the world, the American Red Cross is the largest
single supplier of blood in the nation. Blood and blood components are used in
emergency services, in the
treatment of cancer patients, for people with blood disorders, and
in other lifesaving treatments that benefit countless individuals
across the country.
With the help of the Heart of America Blood Services
Region, volunteers helped collect 3,525 units of blood in
Henry and Mercer counties. Every day, nine units of blood are
collected in our communities, potentially saving the lives of
27 people.