American Red Cross Bicycling Safety and Class Schedule

Newton, NJ, July 11, 2011 — 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.  Many bicycle injuries can be prevented by wearing a correctly-fitting helmet while riding, and 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.  To increase your safety while bicycling, always:

• 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 classes include:

On Wednesday, July 20th an Adult CPR/AED course will be offered from 6:00pm to 10:30pm.  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 $70.00.

On Thursday, August 4th an Adult CPR/AED course will be offered from 6:00pm to 10:30pm.  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 $70.00.

On Monday, August 15th a Standard First Aid course will be offered from 6:00pm to 10:00pm.  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 $70.00.

On Friday, August 19th an Infant/Child CPR course will be offered from 8:30am to 12:00pm.  The course imparts the knowledge and skills necessary to provide care for breathing emergencies and perform CPR specifically for children under the age of nine.  The fee is $70

On Thursday, August 25th 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 is $85.00 and includes a zippered portfolio w/ a first aid kit.

To register for a class please visit www.redcross.org and click Take a Class from the Preparing and Getting Trained drop-down menu, or call 800-RED-CROSS.

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies nearly half of the nation's blood; teaches lifesaving skills; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families.  The Red Cross is a charitable organization — not a government agency — and depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission.  For more information, please visit www.redcross.org or call 800-RED-CROSS.