Volunteer Dick Bylund Is a Lifeline to Residents of the St. Louis Area

Dick Bylund, St. Louis Area Chapter Volunteer of the Year.

A number of years ago, Dick Bylund lay recovering in a hospital bed after suffering a massive heart attack. The stress of working as a regional manager for a high-tech medical equipment company had contributed to his condition, so he knew that returning to work was not an option. Bylund is also an active man, and sitting home day after day seemed an unappealing way to spend his retirement.

The answer to Bylund’s predicament appeared when a St. Louis shopping mall hosted a volunteer fair, where he learned about opportunities at the St. Louis Area Chapter of the American Red Cross. “I had always been familiar with the Red Cross mission,” he said. His work with medical equipment brought him into regular contact with Red Cross blood services, but disaster response was new to him, so he soon began serving on the chapter’s Disaster Action Team (DAT). “I tried to sign up for national disaster response, but my cardiologist forbade me,” he joked. However, he admits that the St. Louis County area that he serves, with its population of nearly 3 million, keeps him busy.

There was a bit of a learning curve for Bylund, who quickly adapted to the DAT’s terminology and procedures. Together with other volunteers, he currently spends every Tuesday and Thursday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the DAT truck monitoring emergency radio channels and responding to local disasters such as fires, storm damage, floods and any other needs of the community. It was not long before he was made a team leader.

It was also not long before Bylund wanted more, so he agreed to help install Lifeline safety devices when he’s not working with the DAT. As the Lead Home Service Representative for American Red Cross Lifeline, Bylund installs units in area homes for seniors. Lifeline is a push-button product designed to call for help and maintain independence for seniors. In addition to installing the unit, volunteers also make weekly calls to subscribers to make sure that the their units are functioning. These visits often provide subscribers with a "lifeline" to the world.

Over the last two years, Dick has installed more than 330 units - each of which takes one to two hours to install. He currently averages 12 Lifeline installs a month. In addition, he volunteers at health fairs to promote the service, trains other Lifeline installers and visits with subscribers to check and see how their units are performing.

Today, Bylund is one of the most dedicated volunteers at the St. Louis Area Chapter. "Dick is a special volunteer, who is always willing to help, learn and share his thoughts to better the organization," states Bob Peterson, Chairman of Volunteers, St. Louis Area Chapter. "Whether Dick responds to a single-family fire or is installing a Lifeline unit for a senior, we know that Dick's kindness makes a positive impact on anyone he encounters."

The commitment, energy and skills he brings to the Red Cross recently earned him the honor of St. Louis Area Chapter Volunteer of the Year.

"Dick has touched many hearts with his sincere kindness and unbelievable compassion," says Betsy Johnson, Lifeline Specialist of the St. Louis Area Chapter. "He truly believes that those who subscribe to Lifeline need it now, and does whatever he can to make sure there is immediate turn around and that the units are installed. He does more than ‘install’ a unit. He visits with subscribers, becomes their friend and makes sure they feel confident on how to use their Lifeline before he leaves."

“I find all of my Red Cross volunteer activities,” said Bylund, “very rewarding.”