Red Cross Urges Cyclists to Keep Bicycle Safety a Top Priority this Summer 

Newton, NJ August 5, 2009 — The Sussex County Chapter of the American Red Cross reminds community members that each year hundreds of thousands of people are injured while riding a bicycle. Health and Safety Director, Melissa Turner said, “Many bicycle injuries can be prevented by wearing a correctly-fitting helmet while riding. Even children using tricycles or bikes with training wheels should wear protective headgear”. Adults should also wear helmets at all times, including when riding with children. The Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute has more information on how to correctly fit a helmet.

Be sure that helmets meet standards set by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), the Snell Memorial Foundation or the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM). Look for a label or a sticker on the box or inside the helmet indicating that it meets the above standards.

• Wear closed shoes while riding a bike.

• Make sure your bike and your child's bike have good brakes, a front light and effective reflecting material.

• Ride only in safe areas and at safe times.

• Make sure bikes are the correct size for the rider.

• Learn about bicycle etiquette, laws and safe riding practices, and teach your children about them.

• Not all injuries can be avoided – taking a Red Cross Standard First Aid course will help you be prepared for the unavoidable!

Upcoming Red Cross training classes include:

On Tuesday, August 11th an Adult CPR/AED course will be offered from 6:00 pm to 10:30 pm. This course is also being offered on Wednesday, September 9th from 6:00 pm to 10:30 pm and Saturday, September 26th from 8:30 am to 1:00 pm. The course imparts the knowledge and skills necessary to provide care for breathing emergencies, perform CPR, and the use of an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) to save victims of sudden cardiac arrest. The fee is $50.00.

On Saturday August 15th, and again on Saturday, September 19th a Babysitter’s Training course is being offered from 9:00am to 3:30pm. The Babysitter’s Training course has a unique interactive, educational format that tasks youth, ages 11 – 15 years of age, with activities such as identifying safety problems around the house and yard and selecting age-appropriate toys and games for children in their care. The fee for this course is $65.00

On Monday, August 17th, and Thursday, September 10th a First Aid course will be offered from 6:00 – 10:00 p.m. This course is intended to teach lay responders the knowledge and skills necessary to give care in an emergency, help sustain life and minimize the consequences of injury or sudden illness until medical help arrives. The fee is $45.00. 

On Saturday, August 22nd from 8:30 am to 1:00 pm, an Infant and Child CPR class will be offered. This class is also offered on Tuesday, September 15th from 6:00 pm to 10:30 pm. Attendees will learn the skills needed to provide care for infants and children in the case of breathing emergencies, and perform CPR.  The fee is $55.00

Classes will be held at the Sussex County Chapter of the American Red Cross located at 93 Spring Street in Newton. Contact the Health and Safety Department at (973) 579-1600, or you can register and pay online at www.sussexredcross.org . Visit this site for directions and information on these and other upcoming Red Cross courses. The American Red Cross is a non-profit organization that shelters, feeds and counsels victims of disasters; provides nearly half of the nation's blood supply; teaches lifesaving skills; and supports military members and their families. The American Red Cross is a non-profit organization, not a government agency, and depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its humanitarian mission.