ARC offers first aid, CPR and disaster relief training to the
public
Back when the American Red Cross first offered first aid and CPR
training, most people signed up for it to be prepared for family
mishaps, according to Laura Kershner, the public support director
of the American Red Cross Monterey-San Benito Counties chapter. But
more and more, the people who sign up for Red Cross classes, such
as the Feb. 3 first aid, CPR and automated external defibrillator
training, are doing so at the request of their employers.
ARC offers first aid, CPR and disaster relief training to the public
Back when the American Red Cross first offered first aid and CPR training, most people signed up for it to be prepared for family mishaps, according to Laura Kershner, the public support director of the American Red Cross Monterey-San Benito Counties chapter. But more and more, the people who sign up for Red Cross classes, such as the Feb. 3 first aid, CPR and automated external defibrillator training, are doing so at the request of their employers.”Most people need CPR and first aid skills now for their job,” Kershner said. “Years ago it used to be just people wanting to know.”
The cost for first aid, CPR and AED classes range from $50-60 a person and most classes are a full day on weekends or two weekday sessions.
“In today’s workforce people are required to know the skills,” Kershner said. “One of the neat things [about ARC] is that we encourage businesses to utilize our services.”
For companies that have eight or more employees interested in taking the training, ARC will send instructors out to their location.
“We can take the show on the road,” Kershner said. “Employees may not have time on a weekend or the company may not want to send them off site during a week day.”
Unlike other first aid or CPR programs that are geared towards professionals, the ARC classes are meant for people with little experience. The classes are offered in English and in Spanish.
“Our trainings are comprehensive and meet higher standards than others,” Kershner said.
While the classes are not free, the fees from the training classes go back into other American Red Cross programs. Part of the money goes into a disaster relief fund and part of the money goes into an armed forces emergency services fund.
“The American Red Cross acts as a medium of communications in times of [family] emergency,” for those in the armed forces, Kershner said. “If a family member wanted to get a message to someone – someone in the family was ill or maybe something happy such as the birth of a family member – we act as a go-between.”
The local ARC chapter also offers free disaster training classes, though the classes through May 2007 are already full. The classes discuss shelter operations, talking to the community about disaster preparedness and other topics.
Melissa Flores can be reached at [email protected].
Upcoming classes:
Standard First Aid with CPR – Adult, Child, and Infant
Classes are $60 and run 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Sat., Feb 17
Sat., March 3
Sat., March 24
Standard First Aid with CPR and automated external defibrillator
Class is $55 and run 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Sat., March 17
To sign up for upcoming classes or for more information, visit www.montereyarc.org.
