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With National Preparedness Month taking place in September, the timing is ideal for organizations to ready themselves against any potential emergency that could occur on the job.

The American Red Cross of Ventura County offers complete and flexible programs teaching life-saving skills in first aid, CPR and automated external defibrillator (AED) training. In addition, the Red Cross also offers prevention courses such as blood borne pathogens training and disaster preparedness education. Courses can also be tailored made to meet the specific needs of the organization and a minimum of eight employees is required for a class.

“For smaller companies who have less than eight employees, they can partner with another company and we can combine the training,” noted Rachele Ford, Business Development Manager for the American Red Cross of Ventura County. “We are flexible in our program and are able to provide various methods to meet the company’s needs, schedules and locations,” she added.

With the proper training, organizations can build their own training team to teach health and safety courses to new staff or conduct regular reviews. The program is designed for companies to build a plan that works. Individuals will learn how to recognize an emergency situation

Besides the basic courses, the American Red Cross of Ventura County offers a number of specialized training including Preventing Disease Transmission and CPR/AED for the Professional Rescuer.

The cost for the Basic First Aid course is $45 and is 4 hours in length. The combined CPR/First Aid class is $55 for 5 ½ hours of class time. The fees for the other courses range from $40-$65.

National Preparedness Month is designed to raise awareness about the importance of preparing for emergencies, whether it is an unexpected event requiring CPR or a natural disaster that could affect a community or place of business. The American Red Cross health and safety training is a cost-effective way for companies to increase health awareness and possibly reduce the risk of injuries and illnesses on the job. Studies indicate that as many as 40 percent of small businesses do not reopen after a major disaster due to a lack of a disaster plan.

Since 1917, the American Red Cross of Ventura County has been meeting needs throughout the communities it serves. Each year, more than 1,200 local volunteers respond to more than 50 local disasters, teach tens of thousands of individual’s vital lifesaving skills, and support the men and women in the U.S. Armed Forces. The American Red Cross is not a government agency.