Displaying items by tag: American Red Cross
Red Cross 2020 Acts Of Courage Recipients
With now less than one month to go before the 24th annual Acts of Courage Award ceremony, the American Red Cross of Northeast Ohio, Summit, Portage, and Medina Counties Chapter has announced their twelve recipients.
The event on March 5th, at the Hilton Akron/Fairlawn will honor local residents who have displayed extraordinary courage in the face of disaster, crisis, or otherwise emergency situation.
Below is the list of this year's honorees and a little more about their story courtesy of the American Red Cross of Northeast Ohio:
Jason Strunk, Leslie Snyder and Seth Bond of Summit County will be honored for saving a mother and her three children during an active shooting.
While waiting at a red light on his way to help an elderly family friend grocery shop in Akron’s Middlebury neighborhood, Jason Strunk heard gunfire. That is when he saw a mother being shot by her boyfriend, while trying to protect her three children, including an infant she was carrying.
Without hesitation, he jumped out of his car and began to wrestle with the armed individual. At this time, Leslie Snyder and Seth Bond arrived and witnessed what was happening. Bond began to assist Strunk in trying to apprehend the shooter, while Snyder attended to the injured mother and her children.
During the exchange, the shooter’s gun jammed, allowing Strunk to grab the two older children and place them in his car. Snyder placed the mother and baby in her car, while applying pressure to the mother’s wounds. They were able to drive the family to safety until first responders and paramedics arrived.
Jacob Thompson of Portage County will be honored for pulling out a driver from an overturned semi-truck.
On February 24, 2019, there was a high wind advisory for drivers. That day, Jacob Thompson was returning to the Kent State University campus following United States Coast Guard drill training in Port Clinton, Ohio.
As he was driving, the high wind took hold of a trailer and threw a semi-truck that was driving in front of him into the center guardrail.
Thompson immediately pulled his vehicle to the side of the road. Upon approaching the vehicle, he was able to see the driver confused and unable to get out. He got into the truck and pulled the driver to safety from the overturned vehicle.
Brian Linder of Summit County will be honored for performing CPR on an unresponsive individual.
At the end of a workday at Akron City Hall, Brian Lindor was walking across the downtown skywalk to the garage to go home. As he was hurrying to avoid the frigid February cold, he spotted an individual unconscious and not breathing.
Having just completed a CPR refresher course a few months prior, Lindor began to administer CPR until paramedics arrived on the scene.
Officers Matt Martincin and Chris Deeks of Medina County will be honored for saving two women from a home fire.
As smoke billowed from a second-floor apartment building, Medina police officers Matt Martincin and Chris Deeks arrived to see two women trapped in an apartment. Despite having a smoke alarm in the apartment, there were no batteries in the alarm.
After attempts to have the women jump failed, Martincin and Deeks found a ladder on the back of a contractor’s vehicle and used the ladder to rescue the two women and all seven of their pets..
Paul Diven of Summit County will be honored for repairing an oxygen tank of an unresponsive individual.
Stan Hywet maintenance worker Paul Diven saw a crowd gathering during the annual Ohio Mart. When he made his way to the commotion, he noticed a volunteer who requires oxygen not breathing.
Understanding time was of the essence, Diven began to troubleshoot to find the issue with the oxygen tank. Once he spotted that a part was installed wrong, he properly installed the part and began to hear the oxygen flowing, helping the individual regain consciousness.
Gregg Whiteman of Summit County will be honored for responding to a co-worker who was suffering a stroke.
While in a meeting at GOJO, Gregg Whiteman received a call from a colleague. Realizing how unusual it was to receive a call from someone who knew he was in a meeting, Whiteman answered his phone. He quickly realized that something was wrong and that the co-worker needed his assistance.
Remaining on the phone, Whiteman was able to gather the proper information to realize exactly where his colleague was, despite his inability to speak coherently.
Thanks to his persistence, Whiteman was not only able to find his co-worker lying on the floor of an office, behind a closed door, but his quick response and immediate call to 911 ensured that the co-worker in need was able to be taken to the hospital, where he was given medication to prevent permanent damage from the stroke he was suffering.
Lt. Doug Price, Firefighters Marcus Council and Barb Fisher of Summit County will be honored for providing fire safety tips and rescuing a young child from a home fire.
Last May, the Akron Fire Department responded to a home fire, with reports of a child trapped in a basement.
With the home engulfed in flames and the basement full of smoke, Akron firefighters Lt. Doug Price and Marcus Council entered the home in search of the young girl. Despite low visibility, Price was able to find the child unconscious and lying on the ground and covered. Price and Council removed the child from the burning home. She was transported to the hospital, where she was able to regain consciousness and make a full recovery.
It was later determined that the child had remembered the fire safety instructions she was taught a week earlier by her teacher Barb Fisher, ultimately helping to save her life.
In addition to recognizing the heroism of area residents, the Red Cross will present the H. Peter Burg Community Leadership Award to a community member who has been selfless in service to the community. This year’s recipient is Steve Hendricks, the market president of the Northeast Ohio region for S&T Bank.
While CEO of FirstEnergy, and chair of the local Red Cross Board of Directors, H. Peter Burg established a legacy of dedicated service to the Greater Akron community. Following his death in 2004, the Red Cross established an award in Burg’s name to honor his memory and inspire others. By bestowing the award upon Hendricks, the Red Cross recognizes his lifetime of community service.
Photo and video opportunities are available with recipients at the event.
For more information on the 2020 Acts of Courage Award, visit redcross.org/acts20.
Red Cross Facing Nationwide Blood Shortage
The American Red Cross is facing a nationwide blood shortage as blood drives and donations in general typically dwindle during the winter months, specifically the holiday season.
The most urgent need is type O, which is the universal donor. According to a recent press release (below), the Red Cross has less than a three-day supply of type O.
In an effort to encourage people to donate blood, the Red Cross and the NFL are teaming up to "tackle the critical need," offering a chance to win a trip to Super Bowl 54 in Miami this year. Find out more information below, or by visiting RedCrossBlood.org.
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The American Red Cross currently has a critical need for blood donors of all blood types – especially type O – and platelet donors to make an appointment now to give and help replenish the blood supply after the holiday weeks. Right now, the Red Cross has less than a three-day supply of type O blood. To help tackle the critical need, the Red Cross and NFL are working together to offer one lucky winner a trip to Super Bowl LIV in Miami.
During the weeks of Christmas and New Year’s, about 500 fewer blood drives were hosted by volunteer sponsor groups than required to meet patient needs. Many groups postpone blood drives during the winter holidays when travel and holiday activities may make it challenging for many donors to give. In fact, AAA estimated that a record 115.6 million Americans traveled during the holiday period of Dec. 21 through Jan. 1.
“Lifesaving medical treatments and emergencies never take a holiday,” said Paul Sullivan, senior vice president, Red Cross Biomedical Services. “Declines in donations can affect patient care. That’s why the Red Cross is encouraging eligible donors to make an appointment to give now and help those sidelined by illness and trauma.”
Donors are urged to make an appointment to give now using the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org, calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or enabling the Blood Donor Skill on any Alexa Echo device.
As a special thank-you, those who come to give blood or platelets Jan. 1-19, 2020, will automatically be entered for a chance to experience the Super Bowl live. The Red Cross and NFL have teamed up to offer one winner two tickets to Super Bowl LIV, entry to the official NFL Tailgate, tickets to Super Bowl Experience at the Miami Beach Convention Center, roundtrip airfare to Miami, three-night hotel accommodations at The Alexander® - All Suite Oceanfront Resort (Jan. 31 to Feb. 3), and a $500 gift card for expenses.* Additional details are available at RedCrossBlood.org/SuperBowl.
Ray Horner Podcast - 11/20/2019
Nominate Your NEO Hero With the Red Cross
The deadline to nominate your local hero for the annual Acts of Courage Awards hosted by the American Red Cross of Northeast Ohio is rapidly approaching!
What constitutes a hero? Well, an ordinary person who has done, or continues to do, extraordinary things.
(Photo Credit: American Red Cross of Northeast Ohio Facebook Page)
Take for example Eric Peterson of Atwater who was driving to work on the morning of March 27, 2018, just like any other day... until it wasn't. He noticed smoke coming from a house in his neighborhood, just a few houses from his. When Peterson didn't see anyone standing outside, he knew there had to be people inside and that they probably needed help.
That's when he jumped into action and saved the lives of a family he'd never met prior to that day.
Hear the interview with Eric Peterson, 2019 recipient of the Acts of Courage Award.
If there is someone in your life who you feel deserves the title of NEO Hero, then click here to submit their name in the running for the 2020 Acts of Courage Awards on March 5th on March 5th. The deadline to submit is December 31st, so act fast!
NEO Red Cross Volunteers Deployed Ahead of Dorian
As residents of the Carolinas and surrounding southern states deal with and continue to prepare for Hurricane Dorian, the American Red Cross has mobilized more than 1,900 trained disaster response workers, including 18 from Northeast Ohio.
As part of their efforts, the Red Cross has deployed 110 Emergency Response Vehicles (ERVs), two of which are from Northeast Ohio, and more than 100 tractor trailers packed with relief supplies, including cots, blankets, and 63,000 ready-to-eat meals.
According to a press release from the Red Cross of Northeast Ohio, on Monday night alone, more than 12,200 people utilized 171 Red Cross and community evacuation shelters in Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina. "What we're trying to do is make sure that people have a safe place to stay," says Jim McIntyre, Communications and Marketing Director for the American Red Cross, Northeast Ohio Region. Estimates are that as many as 60,000 residents across Florida, Georgia, and the Carolinas could be impacted by Dorian, that just finished ravishing the Bahamas, leaving at least twenty dead in its path of destruction.
Find out how you can help those impacted by Hurricane Dorian by visiting RedCross.org, calling 1-800-RED CROSS, or texting "DORIAN" to 90999.
Ray Horner Podcast - 5/29/2019
Ray Horner Podcast - 3/6/2019
The Jasen Sokol Show Podcast 1.31.19
On this Thursday edition of the Jasen Sokol Show, Jim McIntyre of the American Red Cross speaks with Jasen on the fatal fire in Kenmore and emergency assistance (00:18), State Representative Thomas West talks about legislation on infant mortality (10:02), and PGA Pro Joe Leenheer offers up some golf tips (17:00).
Ray Horner Podcast - 1/31/2019
Ray Horner Podcast - 1/31/2019
Ray Horner Podcast - 10/15/2018
Ray Horner Podcast - 10/10/2018
NEO Red Cross Sending Relief to Carolinas
Update from the Red Cross Northeast Ohio Division:
The American Red Cross is preparing to assist up to 100,000 people in North and South Carolina and Virginia as Hurricane Florence nears the east coast.
More than 1,600 people spent the night Tuesday in 36 Red Cross and community shelters in South Carolina and North Carolina.
More than 1,500 Red Cross disaster workers are on the ground, including 16 from Northeast Ohio. 14 of the Northeast Ohio workers are volunteers. Most are shelter workers.
Additional Red Cross volunteers from Northeast Ohio are standing by, waiting to be assigned to the disaster relief operation.
Anyone interested in volunteering can visit redcross.org/neo, and click the volunteer tab.
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Northeast Ohio American Red Cross volunteers are heading to North Carolina ahead of what could be one of the most devastating storms to ever hit the Carolinas.
As of Tuesday morning, Hurricane Florence was a Category 4 storm with maximum sustained winds of up to 130 miles per hour, with gusts registering up to 140 mph.
The National Hurricane Center out of Miami has issued Hurricane and Storm Surge Watches Tuesday for the entire East Coast of the Unitest States, as Florence continues on a crash course with North Carolina. The storm is expected to make landfall, as a Category 4 Hurricane some time Thursday night into Friday morning. More than 1,000,000 residents of the East Coast have been told to evacuate.
Meanwhile, relief efforts are ramping up. Jim McIntyre with the American Red Cross, Northeast Ohio Region, tells our WAKR Newsroom that a group of 9 volunteers are on their way, as of Tuesday afternoon, to North Carolina. "Most volunteers are told to be prepared to be deployed for up to two weeks," McIntyre said, "in order to help provide continuity for the residents who are displaced and may have to hunker down in a shelter."
As with any storm or natural disaster, a lot of uncertainty as to the exact path Florence will take, but McIntyre says that's what the Red Cross prepares for: "What we're trying to is to be prepared for any eventuality; and our volunteers are trained to be flexible, to fulfill the mission they've signed up for, but also to know that they may be called to do something that they didn't sign up to do."
Click here to find out more how you can help the American Red Cross.
UPDATE Fire Claims Four, One In Critical Condition
UPDATED 4:50 a.m. The victims of Saturday's fire that left four dead and two injured were identified by their pastor. Rev. Zach Prosser of Celebration Church in Akron told Cleveland.com the adults are Omar Riley and Shirley Wallis, who had been together for 12 years. Their daughters, nine year old Aniyla and and eight year old Shanice, also perished in the blaze. Prosser identified the 12-year old victim as Wallis' daughter Shaniya, who was listed in critical condition at Akron Children's Hospital.
Another victim, Jennifer Grubbs, was also injured when she jumped out of the attic from the flames according to her fiancee. He was not in the home at the time of the fire. The flames first showed in the back of the house according to a neighbor's home security camera video, according to reports.
Previous coverage
An early morning Saturday blaze left four people dead, two injured. The Akron Fire Department reports the house fire at 266 East Tallmadge Avenue was "heavily involved" when they arrived about five minutes after the call at 1:33 a.m. Arriving firefighters were able to pull five of the six victims from the home. Among the dead are an eight and nine year old; News5 reports a 12-year old jumped from a second floor window to escape the flames and is in critical condition. An adult was also pulled from the home and was also injured.
Video from the scene is at the News5 link above
Names and other details of the victims were not released. There is no cause of the blaze at this time.
No smoke detectors were found in the home, which reportedly was a rental property. The American Red Cross is reminding area residents smoke detectors are free throughout northeast Ohio, and the Akron Fire Department provides free installation in partnership with the Red Cross. Mayor Dan Horrigan said he was "deeply saddened" by the tragedy...and will see to it hat the victims' families and the survivors are supported in this time of great sorrow and need."
The children were enrolled in Akron Public Schools, one at Seiberling Elementary and another at Forest Hills Elementary. The 12-year old is a student at Hyre Middle School. APS spokesman Mark Williamson said ""Akron Public Schools and its community of families are profoundly saddened by this loss of two precious children and other members of their family. Three of our schools have felt this tragedy, deeply, and will be visited by our counselors this week for assistance. We offer our heartfelt prayers."
There was also reaction from LeBron James and the LeBron James Family Foundation; the children were members of his Wheels for Education program. James tweeted he was "unbelievably saddened to hear the news. My heart hurts...our family lost two bright, bright stars."
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(Akron Fire Department) Firefighters responded to a two and a half story residential house fire. Upon arrival the first floor was heavily involved in smoke and flames. People were reported to be trapped inside so an immediate interior fire attack was taken for rescue. The call came in at 01:33 and by 01:38 the first Engine was on scene.
Through the heavy heat and smoke (no visibility) 5 of the 6 victims were pulled from the house within the first few minutes of arrival. The cause of the fire is still under investigation but it was noted that smoke detectors could not be located throughout the house.
The fire caused four fatalilties. Two adults and two children, 8 and 9 year old. Two other victims were transported and are still ithe hospital. Unknown condition at the time of this press release. Names, relationships, and genders were not given while investigation is on going. One firefighter was transported for minor injuries and released.
(American Red Cross) We are deeply saddened by the loss of life resulting from a home fire in Akron early Saturday morning. Our hearts go out to the families affected by this tragedy.
The Red Cross partners with many Fire Departments in Northeast Ohio, including the Akron Fire Department, to provide and install smoke alarms, free of charge, to any resident who requests the alarms. We also provide valuable fire safety information, and help residents develop plans to escape from their homes should a fire occur. The initiative is call Operation Save-A-Life.
Akron Mayor Dan Horrigan helped launch Operation Save-a-Life at a home in Akron earlier this year.
Akron residents can call 330-535-2030 to request a home fire safety inspection and free smoke alarms. In Cleveland, residents can call 216-361-5535. Youngstown residents may call 866-319-7160. Elsewhere
throughout Northeast Ohio, residents can log onto redcross.org/neo to request smoke alarms for their homes.
We are grateful for our partnerships with so many fire departments, corporations and community groups for helping to provide this valuable, potentially life-saving service, and we urge all residents to check their homes for working smoke alarms, and to contact us at the numbers or website above if they need smoke alarms for their homes for working smoke alarms, and to contact us at the numbers above.
(City of Akron) Early this morning the Akron Fire Department responded to an advanced-stage fire in a three-story house on East Tallmadge Avenue.
The Fire Department acted quickly to extinguish the flames and rescue the individuals inside. Tragically, two adults and two children lost their lives in the fire. One adult and one child have survived and are being treated for their injuries.
"My family, the Akron Fire Department, and the entire Akron community, are profoundly saddened by this devastating incident. Any time our community experiences a loss such as this, it reminds us how precious life is," said Mayor Dan Horrigan. 'My deepest sympathies and prayers are with the family members of those who lost their lives, as we continue to pray for strength and healing for the survivors being treated. We will see to it that the victims' families and the survivors are supported in this time of great sorrow and need.
There is no higher duty we have as city leaders than to protect the health and safety of our residents and I thank the Akron Fire Department for their bravery in responding to this fire and for their attempts to rescue those trapped inside. I offer my full support and confidence as the professionals work to investigate the cause of this fire."
(Akron Public Schools) "Akron Public Schools and its community of families are profoundly saddened by this loss of two precious children and other members of their family. Three of our schools have felt this tragedy, deeply, and will be visited by our counselors this week for assistance. We offer our heartfelt prayers."
Red Cross Volunteers Hit West Virginia
Independence Day weekend may have been relaxing for you -- but for thousands in West Virginia, it was just another three days of cleaning up and trying to rebuild after the massive flooding two weeks ago.
The American Red Cross' communications director Mary Williams among the more than 600 volunteers who went to the Mountain State, including a contingent from here in Northeast Ohio. Along with Williams the regional CEO for the Red Cross, Mike Parks, also volunteered his holiday weekend.
Williams say there were many sights and stories that hit hard; in one case, a woman told her she and her children were stranded above the rising waters on the roof of their home. Her husband was able to get to her and rescue them; Williams say the woman told her she never loved her husband more than at that moment. In Richwood, the home of the annual Cherry River Festival and well-known for it's springtime Ramp Festival, the river literally ran through the middle of the quain town and left it looking "...like a movie western: empty storefronts with nothing but all of the dust from the dried mud left behind," Williams said.
The spirit not only of the West Virginians without homes or jobs is one of resilience and courage, Williams said, adding many of the volunteers this weekend came as far away as California.
The need now is for financial assistance -- you can give on-line to the Red Cross at RedCross.O-R-G, and choosing West Virginia flooding on the dropdown menu. You can also give by texting "WVfloods" to 9-0-999 or you can all 1-800-RED-CROSS to donate by phone.