Be A Hero

In this episode five Red Cross disaster responders from Northern Ohio talk about how they helped people impacted by hurricanes Helene and Milton during the early autumn of 2024.

Officers Holly Alferio and Alexis Dixon of the Avon, Ohio police department saved the life of a choking child on Halloween in 2023. They have been chosen as winners of a 2024 Hero Award, presented by the American Red Cross of North Central Ohio. On this episode, the officers explain how they came across a panicked mother on the side of the road, as they were on their way to pass out candy.

Jerry Klear and Bob Verhoff teamed up to save a physically-challenged woman and her young granddaughter from a home fire in rural Ottawa County, and for their heroics, they are receiving a 2024 Hero Award from the American Red Cross of North Central Ohio. Jerry was driving by when he noticed smoke coming from the home, and Bob is a niehgbor who also saw the fire. They describe what they did and why.

A team effort helped save a young driver who fell asleep behind the wheel and flipped his car into a water-filled ditch. The first bystander to stop called 9-1-1, while two others broke a window in an attempt to pull the driver out of the upside down car. Deputy Dylan Rohrbaugh and Lt. Craig Ritz of the Erie County, Ohio Sheriff's Department arrived shortly thereafter, and describe the way in which they were able to save the driver. All three bystanders and the two law enforcement officers will be presented with Hero Awards on October 23, 2024 from the American Red Cross of North Central Ohio.

September is National Preparedness Month. The American Red Cross encourages residents to get ready for disasters by making a plan to stay safe, gathering important supplies and knowing how you'll stay connected. 19 News Meteorologist Jeff Tanchak explains the current weather patterns that may have a bearing on what kind of winter we should expect in Northern Ohio.

Five years following a bone marrow transplant and a lot of blood and platelet transfusiojns, Charlotte Rerko remains cancer free. But it was a challenging journey, made possible only because of generous blood and platelet donors. Charlotte talks about her journey with Red Cross communicators Jim McIntyre and Christy Peters of the Northern Ohio Region.

Tim Graichen witnessed a violent car crash while on his way back to Akron from a work event in Tennessee. He used his Red Cross First Aid and CPR training to help save the life of the driver, who showed no signs of life at the scene of the crash. Tim talks about performing CPR for more than 15 minutes, his worry over being contaminated with the stranger's blood, and what became of the driver he assisted.

She's the Sandra Bullock of the Akron Fire Department. If you're familiar with the movie Speed, Terra's harrowing story of survival will be familiar to you. If not - just wait until you hear this veteran firefighter/paramedic calmly recount the scary seconds that could have meant life or death for her and her partner when the ambulance she was riding in went out of control. "I'm pretty sure that our ambulance is gonna need a new set of brakes, along with some body work," Terra said during the interview. She is a 2024 Acts of Courage Award Winner, sponsored by the American Red Cross of Greater Akron and the Mahoning Valley.

Three students of the Kent State University School of Nursing helped save a man in distress in downtown Wooster, Ohio. The man was experiencing a violent seizure when students Audrey Jokovich, Keenan Orr, and Marissa Tyger happened to be walking by as they were working on a school assignment. They provided aid and obtained valuable information about the patient before EMS arrived on the scene. All three credit their Red Cross Basic Life Support training for helping them know what to do and how to stay calm in a very stressful situation. Hosted by Jim McIntyre, Regional Communications Director of the American Red Cross of Northern Ohio (and proud KSU grad - class of '81.)

Hannah Stein saved a woman from drowning in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park, and Jenna Omar performed abdominal thrusts in her school cafeteria to save a fellow seventh-grader. Both tell their stories to Jim McIntyre and Christy Peters of the Red Cross Communications Department.