Summer is in full swing and people are gardening, picnicking, hiking, fishing and, unfortunately, dealing with biting pests. . .
 

You’ve heard it forever: Drink eight 8-ounce glasses of water a day to be healthy. Do you really have to drink 64 ounces of water every day to stay healthy?
 
     “No, not really,” says Susan Mills-Gray, University of Missouri Extension nutrition specialist. “We take water in so many different ways each day. . .  

Summer is peak season for one of nature's deadliest phenomena, lightning.  In fact, 22 out of last year's 34 lightning fatalities in the US occurred in June and July.  The National Weather Service has designated June 20 - 26 as Lightning Safety Week.

Though they can be exciting, festive and fun, two staples of summer – fireworks and barbeque grills – are also dangerous.  The majority of fireworks injuries (60%) occur in the month surrounding the July 4th holiday, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The American Red Cross St. Louis Area Chapter is encouraging the public to remember important safety tips during their holiday celebrations. . .  

A new Red Cross survey shows that 68 percent of Americans have been involved in some kind of summer emergency, ranging from insect bites, heat stroke and broken bones to more life-threatening situations. One in every four people say they have been in a situation where someone needed CPR. . .

The American Red Cross St. Louis Area Chapter is celebrating National CPR and AED Awareness Week, June 1—7, 2010, by offering a 10-percent discount for people who register online for CPR classes with an AED component. Local companies, schools, municipalities and other community organizations are encouraged to contact the Red Cross about starting an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) program in order to be prepared for the unexpected.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of modern-day CPR – the combination of breaths and compressions. . .

The weather is getting warmer, the end of the school year is almost here, and thoughts are turning to a summer of fun in the water.  The American Red Cross is urging everyone to learn how to swim and to learn water safety and lifesaving skills that can help save a life. . .