The American Red Cross offers basic first aid courses in which individuals can learn how to treat various common injuries, such as burns and wounds. The organization also sponsors courses in CPR, in which students learn how to recognize cardiac emergencies and apply cardiopulmonary resuscitation and mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. The classes teach participants to administer CPR both to adults and to children 12 and under. AED classes teach students how to use a defibrillator.
The organization provides first aid training programs for companies and their employees. These programs include injury prevention, bloodborne pathogen training and education on disaster preparedness, along with basic first aid, CPR and defibrillator training. First aid training for the workplace combines videos and lectures with hands-on training.
The Red Cross has classes for professionals such as emergency medical technicians, whose job it is to provide emergency response. For these professionals, the organization offers first aid training on a more sophisticated level than the classes taken by individuals. Professional responders learn about CPR and AED use through videos, discussions and hands-on training, as well as using AED devices on children. Emergency professionals also may learn about asthma inhalers and epinephrine injections.
The American Red Cross has worked with the U.S. Olympic Committee to develop its sports safety course, which teaches participants how to care for sports-related injuries. Its wilderness and remote first aid course meets Occupational Safety and Health Administration guidelines and is based on the Boy Scouts of America's first aid training, covering such topics as hypothermia, allergies and heat-related emergencies. The Red Cross even offers classes on how to administer first aid to your pet.