HEALTH AND SAFETY SERVICES

Commodore Wilbert Longfellow, founder of Red Cross swimming programs, giving lessons in lifesaving

For more than a century, the American Red Cross has been saving lives with public health education programs. In the central New Mexico, the Mid-Rio Grande Chapter has been serving the health education needs of our communities for the past 87 years, and helping people to live safer and healthier lives. The Red Cross constantly strives to respond to the health concerns of Americans at home, in school and in the workplace, and helps individuals, families, businesses and communities incorporate health education into plans of overall preparedness for all types of emergencies. 

First Aid and CPR - The Mid-Rio Grande Chapter has many training options in this, the most well-known area of health and safety training in the American Red Cross.  Programs like Standard First Aid, First Aid - Responding to Emergencies, First Aid for Children Today (FACT) and Basic Aid Training (BAT) programs for children, and Emergency Response are just a few of the first aid training options available.  CPR training courses range from a basic Adult CPR course to CPR training for the professional rescuer (lifeguards, EMT's, nurses, law enforcement).  AED training is also available for community members as well as in the workplace.

Aquatic Safety - Through the services of local authorized providers, the Mid-Rio Grande Chapter offers courses in lifeguard training, and can even refer parents to many locations where Red Cross swimming lessons are taught.

Caregiving - The Mid-Rio Grande Chapter helps middle-school age youth learn valuable skills that can help them get their first job - as a babysitter.  Babysitter's training gives 11 to 15 year-olds the knowledge, skills and confidence to care for infants and school-age children.  See course information for more details.

Disease Prevention Education - The American Red Cross was the founder of community HIV/AIDS prevention education programs, and is today a leading provider of information about the facts and myths about this devastating disease.  Each year, an additional 40,000 cases of HIV are reported, according to the Centers for Disease Control.  The Mid-Rio Grande Chapter urges individuals of all ages to learn about HIV through one of the many programs available.  There is a complacency in the U.S. about the need for HIV prevention education - the fact is this epidemic is far from over.  There are programs for all ages and communities, and programs specific to workplace issues are also available.

For information on the training areas above, visit our course information page, or go directly to the current training schedule.

Workplace Training Programs - The Mid-Rio Grande Chapter Brings Lifesaving Skills Training Directly to Your Workplace.  The American Red Cross has developed specific programs to meet the health and safety education needs of businesses of all kinds.  Flexible courses and training sessions include first aid, CPR, Preventing Disease Transmission (OSHA compliant for bloodborne pathogens), HIV/AIDS education, AED training, and a whole series of workplace safety modules.  Safety modules include: Ergonomics, Your Heart Matters, Managing Stress, Violence in the Workplace (an awareness module), Back Injury Prevention, and Slips, Trips and  Falls.  For more information on these programs, please call the chapter at 505-265-8514, and ask for extension 26.  We can make safety training easy, simple and cost-effective for your company or organization.

You can help the Red Cross save lives by becoming an instructor or an Authorized Provider, take a course, or volunteer with your local chapter.  Call 505-265-8514, x26 today!