By Robert Ambrose

Boasting of over 2 dozen online courses, the Red Cross is a go-to nexus to learn just about anything to help you deal with a host of emergencies and safety topics. Below are some examples. Visit redcross.org/takeaclass for a full list.

So, you find yourself at the scene of an accident. You see an individual bleeding but you are not worried because you took the Red Cross First Aid for Severe Bleeding Online. In moments, you stop the bleeding (because you learned from us what to do). When paramedics arrive, they continue your work. One says without you, the patient never would have survived the accident. High-five! You saved someone’s life. 

Water Safety

Where would the Red Cross be without water safety? There are five online courses to learn how to prevent water problems, keep kids safe in the water, and how to save a drowning victim. Also, completing the Water Safety Ambassador training will give teachers and adult and youth leaders strategic data to warn youngsters where to avoid high-risk drowning areas. Separately, a 3.5-hour Lifeguard Management course gives scenario-activities, video lessons, a final exam and a certificate. Non-lifeguards are welcome to that course.

Coping skills

Got COVID stress? Coping skills are found in the course called, Psychological First Aid: Supporting Yourself and Others During COVID-19. No further explanation seems necessary, but it’s the first course listed on the Red Cross class list online if you want to check it out.

Opioid Intervention

As the U.S. and Philadelphia navigate the opioid epidemic, you can do more than read about it. A Red Cross online course can teach you how to save an individual on the edge of life and death. Overdose happens, but Good Samaritan tools are found at the Red Cross First Aid for Opioid Overdoses course. For example, if naloxone sounds like something to keep your potato chips fresh for six months, you will learn how to use this life-saving medication to prevent an overdosing heroin addict from racing to the great hereafter. Also, tools like the nasal atomizer, Narcan and EVZIO will be analyzed and demonstrated to help you save an overdosing opioid consumer.

Babysitting Skills

Baby-sitters are hard to find. But maybe you could prepare your baby-sitter with the Red Cross Babysitting Basics. Set expectations and learn together – online.

CPR

CPR’s life-saving methods vary depending on the patient’s heart. The Red Cross offers online courses for saving a baby, a child or an adult. Hearts are different, you know. If your job needs an OSHA certification, Red Cross has a required supplemental teacher-led course. Take the supplemental course within 3 months from the online course. CPR courses even teach how to handle the AED (i.e., automated external defibrillator). 

Pet First Aid

Not to leave our pets out, a Red Cross online course will teach how to give your dog or cat first aid care. How to respond to breathing and cardiac emergencies, wounds, bleeding and seizures will be taught. A pound of prevention is also discussed.

To learn more about these online classes, or all of our Red Cross classes and programs, visit redcross.org/takeaclass.