GREENE – The Southern Tier Chapter of the American Red Cross in New York has awarded the Industrial Safety Real Heroes Award to Michelle Day, a first responder and a project administrator for the Raymond Corporation. Day and the other Real Heroes were honored at the 4th Annual American Red Cross Real Heroes Breakfast on May 9 in Binghamton.
There are eleven categories of the American Red Cross Real Heroes awards, and they honor individuals who have shown courage, dedication and selfless acts of heroism. Day was honored in the Industrial Safety category for her preparedness and life-saving action that goes above the call of duty at Raymond.
American Red Cross Chief Communications Officer Matt Michael reported an average 350 people were in attendance at the breakfast, the most since its inception. Jay Price - a Manasquan, NJ history teacher, high school football coach, and volunteer firefighter who risked his life to save dozens of people during and after Superstorm Sandy - was the event’s guest speaker, and Michael said his speech at the breakfast was very powerful.
Said Steve VanNostrand, vice president of human resources at the Raymond Corporation, “We are fortunate to have Michelle as an employee and appreciate her support of the health and well-being of her colleagues. We find it important to encourage our employees to follow their passion for helping others because we know this will help keep our company, as well as our community, safe and healthy.”
Day has been a first responder for more than eight years, as well as an Emergency Medical Technician-Critical Care (EMT-CC) for six years. Prior to that, she was a basic Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) for five years. In addition, Day has served as an American Red Cross instructor for seven years.
As part of her commitment to helping others, Day provides training to other Raymond employees looking to become Raymond first responders. Her instruction includes cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), first aid and automate external defibrillator (AED) certifications, oxygen administration, auto-injectors, auto-inhalers and blood-borne pathogens. Day extends her educational courses to lay responders and professional rescuers including EMT, lifeguard and health care professionals.
