MEDIA ADVISORY
 

Date:	June 23, 2009
Media Contact:	Diane Concannon 609.951.2116; Cell: 609.206.4043 concannond@njredcross.org

Red Cross to Recognize Raritan Township Community Hero
Man performs lifesaving action on co-worker

NOTE: PHOTO AND FILMING OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE

The American Red Cross of Central New Jersey will present Raritan Township Public Works employee Jeff Hamerstone with a Community Hero certificate this Thursday at the Municipal Building in Flemington.

On January 15, 2009, Mr. Hamerstone did not hesitate to put his Red Cross First Aid training into action when co-worker Mike Rasile began choking. The two were on their lunch break at the Public Works Facility when Mr. Hamerstone recognized the signs of conscious choking and immediately performed the actions necessary to dislodge the food and save Mr. Rasile from losing consciousness.

About the American Red Cross of Central New Jersey
The Central New Jersey Chapter serves the people of Mercer, Middlesex, Hunterdon, and parts of Somerset counties, helping our community prevent, prepare for and respond to emergencies. Last year, 2,201 volunteers and 25 full- or part-time employees assisted 271 families (954 individuals with shelter, food and/or clothing) after 117 disasters (mostly house fires) displaced them from their homes; trained 51,296 residents with First Aid, CPR or other lifesaving skills; delivered 45,267 nutritious meals to homebound and elderly; and provided care and support to 209 military families. Central New Jersey residents donated 13,466 pints of blood through the American Red Princeton Blood Donor Center or American Red Cross blood drives throughout our service area. The Red Cross is not a government agency; it relies on donations of time, money, and blood to do its work. For more information on the programs and services of the Red Cross, and to learn how you can get involved, visit www.njredcross.org or call 609-951-8550.

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707 Alexander Road, Suite 101, Princeton, NJ 08540-6311. 609-951-8550 . Fax: 609-951-9787
Hunterdon Branch: 79 Route 202/31, Suite 302 . 908-782-4121 . Fax: 908-782-2864
www.njredcross.org