Mary Goetz hears all different kinds of reasons why people come through the American Red Cross doors looking to become certified instructors.

Tuesday, July 13, 1999

Mary Goetz hears all different kinds of reasons why people come through the American Red Cross doors looking to become certified instructors.

"Some people do it for their job because they have to teach their co-workers and some do it just for the sake of volunteering," said Goetz, the assistant director of the Mower County chapter of the American Red Cross.

Laura Symes fits both categories.

Symes, who originally hailed from Jefferson, Wis., before moving to Austin in 1994 to take a job with Hormel Foods, is a certified instructor in the health and safety division of the American Red Cross. She is certified to teach child and infant CPR, which she will be doing as a volunteer at 6 p.m. Tuesday in the basement of the local American Red Cross chapter, as well as adult CPR, first aid and safety. Symes is one among the many certified instructors that teach classes on any one of the three previously mentioned programs that are offered once a month.

Symes originally got involved as an instructor because she was asked to teach other employees at Hormel. She continues to volunteer her time as an instructor because she said she wants to give something back to the community as well as the importance of the cause.

"I’ve been involved with the Red Cross for about 15 years and I just think this is very important because you never know when there will an emergency and by taking the classes, you can be prepared for one."

Symes, who also donates blood, began her association with the American Red Cross when she became a certified life guard when she was 15 and then a certified swim instructor a year later.

Besides volunteering to teach the monthly classes, she has also been involved with "Save a Neighbor" program for the past two years. The annual program, which is sponsored by the American Red Cross, offers free adult CPR to anyone in the community.

Aside from minor cuts and other easily remedied discomforts she was able to handle with her first aid training, Symes has never had to put her life saving knowledge to use in a critical life or death situation. And for that she is grateful.

"I’m very thankful I’ve never had to use my training," she said. "I just feel having the training makes me feel confident that I could do it if I had to."

For more information on becoming an instructor or any of the classes offered at the American Red Cross, call 437-4589.