DEERFIELD, Ill., March 16, 2011 - In honor of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords and those involved in the Tucson tragedy, Walgreens (NYSE: WAG) (NASDAQ: WAG) will sponsor American Red Cross nationwide life saving trainings at more than 100 locations across the country this Saturday, March 19.
The “Gabrielle Giffords Honorary Save-a-Life Saturday” event will offer free training including instruction in hands-only CPR, controlling external bleeding, and recognizing and managing shock. Locations, times and registration information can be found at www.redcross.org/savealife or by contacting a local Red Cross chapter.
“We have a store in the plaza where the Tucson tragedy occurred and some of our health care professionals saw firsthand that day the value of knowing CPR,” said Greg Wasson, Walgreens President and CEO. “Our store employees were among the first to call 9-1-1 and provided first aid using supplies from our store. We were in a unique position to help at a critical time and I’m proud of the way our employees responded.”
“This is a great way for Walgreens to give back to hundreds of communities that have welcomed us over the years,” Wasson added. “Every person who is CPR-trained is a potential life-saver 365 days a year. This is invaluable and important training that we’re proud to help provide in partnership with the American Red Cross and in honor of Rep. Giffords as she continues her recovery.”
About Walgreen Co.
Walgreens (www.walgreens.com) is the nation's largest drugstore chain with fiscal 2010 sales of $67 billion. The company operates 7,689 drugstores in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. Each day, Walgreens provides nearly 6 million customers the most convenient, multichannel access to consumer goods and services and trusted, cost-effective pharmacy, health and wellness services and advice in communities across America. Walgreens scope of pharmacy services includes retail, specialty, infusion, medical facility and mail service, along with respiratory services. These services improve health outcomes and lower costs for payers including employers, managed care organizations, health systems, pharmacy benefit managers and the public sector. Take Care Health Systems is a Walgreens subsidiary that is the largest and most comprehensive manager of worksite health centers and in-store convenient care clinics, with more than 700 locations throughout the country.
About the American Red Cross:
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies nearly half of the nation's blood; teaches lifesaving skills; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a charitable organization — not a government agency — and depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit www.redcross.org or join our blog at http://blog.redcross.org.
Walgreens
Robert Elfinger, (847)315-2962
http://news.walgreens.com