For approved Health and Safety Services courses, CEUs may be obtained for training taken on or after November 3, 2008.

How does a student obtain CEUs after completing a Red Cross course or attending a presentation?

-Students should complete the following steps after completing a Red Cross training course:

1. Visit www.RedCrossstore.org

2. Provide:
• Course name
• Course date(s)
• Location of course including address, city and zip code
• American Red Cross chapter's name
• Instructor name

3. Select the CEU for the course and pay the fee.

4. Upon verification of course completion, the CEU certificate will be e-mailed to you within four weeks; hard copy upon request.

Yes. The course fee is collected by the Chapter during the course enrollment process. You pay the CEU fee online through the National Red Cross website when ordering CEUs.

Helpful tips: If someone is unwilling to pay their fee via the internet, is there any option for them to pay by mail? Yes, a mail-in form request is available for students who are unwilling or unable to pay the fees via the internet.

No. However, students should check with the appropriate credentialing agency as to whether there are polices relating to deadlines for submitting CEUs.

Yes, a list of currently approved courses and presentations is available on the Red Cross Store at: http://www.redcrossstore.org/Navigation/RedCrossStore/Documents/CEUApprovedCourses.pdf.

The list will be updated as courses and presentations are approved.

No. Because there is no instructional time during “challenge” courses, they are not on the approved list of courses eligible for CEUs.

No. CEUs are only awarded to students receiving instruction.

No. CEUs are only awarded for instructional time.

The American Red Cross does not endorse the "How to Survive A Heart Attack When Alone" coughing technique that is being publicized on the Internet. The American Red Cross develops materials from the consensus of medical opinion such as the National Academy of Sciences, the American Heart Association's Emergency Cardiac Care Committee, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the American College of Emergency Physicians.

The 1992 Guidelines for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Emergency Cardiac Care and the Guidelines 2000 for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Emergency Cardiovascular Care - International Consensus on Science briefly discuss the technique called Cough CPR ¹. Cough CPR is a self-administered form of cardiopulmonary resuscitation described by CM Criley in 1976 ². According to Criley, self-initiated CPR is possible; however, its use is limited to clinical situations in which the patient has a cardiac monitor, the arrest is recognized before loss of consciousness, and the patient can cough forcefully. To date, there is insufficient scientific research concerning the efficacy of Cough CPR. Therefore, American Red Cross cannot advocate teaching the technique until it has been thoroughly tested in national studies and found to be effective.

As a training organization, the American Red Cross encourages the public to recognize the signals of a heart attack:

-Persistent chest pain or discomfort (which can range from discomfort to an unbearable crushing sensation in the chest) that lasts longer than 3 to 5 minutes or is not relieved by resting, changing position, oral medication, or goes away and then comes back.
-Discomfort, pain or pressure in either arm; discomfort, pain or pressure that spreads to the shoulder, arm, neck or jaw.
-Breathing difficulty, which may cause dizziness.
-Nausea.
-Skin appearance, which may be pale or bluish in color. The face may be moist or may sweat profusely.
-Unconsciousness.

To care for a heart attack victim:

-Recognize the signals of a heart attack.
-Call 9-1-1 or the local emergency number for help.
-Convince and help the victim to stop activity and rest comfortably.
-Try to obtain additional information about the victim's condition.
-Assist with medication, if prescribed.
-Monitor the victim's condition.
-Be prepared to give CPR and use an AED if the victim's heart stops beating.

Often a heart attack victim experiences chest pain that does not go away; the pain may spread to the shoulder, arm, neck, jaw or back. It is usually not relieved by resting, changing position or taking medicine. If the pain is severe or does not go away in 3-5 minutes, call 9-1-1 or your local emergency number at once. A heart attack victim may deny that any signal is serious. If it appears as though the victim is having a heart attack, stay calm, reassure the victim, and call 9-1-1 or your local emergency number!


1. American Heart Association Guidelines for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Emergency Cardiac Care. JAMA. 1992; 268(16): 2135-2302.
2. Criley JM, Blaufuss AH, Kissel GL. Cough-induced cardiac compression. JAMA, 1976; 236:1246-1250.
3. Guidelines 2000 for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Emergency Cardiovascular Care - International Consensus on Science.

Contact your local American Red Cross chapter. The Red Cross offers nationally standardized HIV/AIDS education programs for the community and the workplace. In particular, we serve diverse communities with our African American HIV/AIDS Program and Hispanic HIV/AIDS Program. These courses use culturally specific materials and activities to help people adopt prevention behaviors to protect themselves and others from HIV. We also have multimedia materials expressly for youth.

Our Web site provides information about American Red Cross HIV/AIDS education programs that are offered on-site through many Red Cross chapters nationwide. Through these programs, we teach people the facts about HIV and AIDS, how to apply the facts to their own behavior, and how to develop real-life skills to prevent the spread of HIV. Red Cross-trained instructors use a variety of interactive learning techniques that are customized to the needs of participants. Visit the HIV/AIDS portion of our Web site or contact your local Red Cross to find out more about the program that's right for you. In addition, check out This Month's HIV/AIDS Facts for some important points about HIV and AIDS, or our HIV/AIDS Facts Book for a comprehensive resource that includes transmission and prevention information. We also link to a variety of other Web sites that provide the latest information about HIV and AIDS. Check the Related Sites section for each of our HIV/AIDS education pages for more information.

The risk of disease transmission during CPR training is extremely low according to the Guidelines 2000 for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Emergency Cardiovascular Care published in the American Heart Association's journal Circulation on August 22, 2000. In addition, the use of CPR manikins has never been shown to be responsible for an outbreak of infection, and a literature search through March 2000 revealed no reports of infection associated with CPR training.

The American Red Cross minimizes the risk of disease transmission during CPR training through the following process:


-The American Red Cross develops and delivers courses and trains instructors to provide for the safety of all participants. This includes minimizing the risk of disease transmission. To the best of our knowledge, use of manikins has never been documented as being responsible for transmitting a case of bacterial, fungal or viral disease.
-The American Red Cross develops standards and guidelines for decontaminating manikins based on information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. These standards and guidelines are consistent with the current American Heart Association Emergency Cardiovascular Care Guidelines. Red Cross instructors are given specific manikin-cleaning procedures to follow before, during and after class.
-American Red Cross chapters and trained instructors follow rigorous manikin-cleaning procedures.

As the leader in providing lifesaving training to the American public, the American Red Cross is committed to ensuring the health and safety of participants in all Red Cross courses. Preventing transmission of disease during CPR training is an essential element in the development and delivery of American Red Cross courses.

If you took an American Red Cross course and you need a replacement certificate, contact the chapter where the training was conducted. To find the chapter, use the zip code or website locator. You can help the chapter process your request, by providing information about the training (location, date, instructor’s name, and your name).

CPR certificates are valid for one year from the course completion date. First aid and Lifeguard Training certificates are valid for 3 years. If more time has passed than the certificate is valid for or if the chapter cannot locate your record of training, take another class to get recertified. Challenge the course (just skills and written exam) if you remember everything. Take a full course if you need time to relearn or practice the skills before testing.

Contact your local American Red Cross to arrange first aid training for your employees. The Red Cross offers a variety of training programs for your workplace. Select from our core courses including Workplace Training: Standard First Aid and Adult CPR/AED. Then choose from our supplemental modules: Ergonomics; Slips, Trips, and Falls; Back Injury Prevention; Workplace Violence Awareness; Managing Stress; and Your Heart Matters. We also have a Workplace HIV/AIDS Program that includes Spanish language materials with facts about HIV transmission and prevention that are written specifically for the workplace.

You need to be at least 15 years old by the last scheduled class date to take the Red Cross Lifeguarding course. If you're 11- to 14-years old and interested in future work as a lifeguard, you can take GuardStart: Lifeguarding Tomorrow. We also offer other programs of interest to lifeguards, such as Waterfront Lifeguarding, Waterpark Lifeguarding, Automated External Defibrillation, and Oxygen Administration.

Contact your local Red Cross and ask for Stock No. 329595.

AEDs can be used in a variety of environments including rain, snow and ice. Always use common sense when using an AED and follow the manufacturer's recommendations. Generally, the victim should not be in a puddle of water, nor should the rescuer be kneeling in a puddle of water when operating the AED. If it is raining, steps should be taken to ensure that the victim is as dry as possible and sheltered from the rain. Ensure the victim's chest is wiped dry. Minimize delaying defibrillation though when taking steps to provide for a dry environment. The electrical current of an AED is very directional between the electrode pads. Manufacturers state that AEDs are very safe when all precautions and manufacturer's operating instructions are followed.

Participants must be 11 years of age by the last scheduled course date to receive a certificate for American Red Cross Babysitter's Training. This age was selected as most states require children to be 11 before they can be left alone for short periods without adult supervision. However, local or state regulating agencies may have different age requirements to be able to babysit. Check with your local child welfare, child protective services, health department and/or police. You may receive different answers, so ask for a written copy of the statutes and or regulations that pertain to your location.

Often, the term “International Red Cross” is used incorrectly in the public domain when referring to one of the many organizations who make up the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.

The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement is a phrase that symbolizes the unity of all Red Cross work carried out by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC); the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies; and national Red Cross and Red Crescent societies or their equivalents around the world, including the American Red Cross; and the Magen David Adom in Israel.

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (often called the Federation) is an umbrella organization of national Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies that coordinate relief efforts throughout the world occurring outside the theatre of war and other forms of armed conflict.

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is an impartial, neutral and independent organization whose exclusively humanitarian mission is to protect the lives and dignity of victims of war and internal violence and to provide them with assistance.

Yes. Although the red cross is not a religious symbol, the symbol of the red crescent is used instead of the red cross by national societies in most Islamic countries. Both Red Cross and Red Crescent national societies are part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.

The 1949 Geneva Conventions are comprised of four treaties with numerous articles. Each treaty protects a different group of people at risk during armed conflict and specifies how they must be humanely treated.

No. The American Red Cross can not mail any of the above to individuals overseas.

The American Red Cross welcomes volunteers for international deployment after they have successfully passed through the prerequisite training curriculum. International Response Team training and International Services Courses are vital to the success of relief missions. Further information may be obtained through the local Chapter or on the Opportunities page.

Red Cross tracing services and Red Cross Messages help families locate each other, send communication and learn each other's fate. Often these services, which are conducted between people living in the United States and their relatives living in foreign countries, may be required for several years.

Contact your local chapter or get more information on our web site (link) about how to initiate a tracing request, which are available to families who have been separated as a result of disaster or conflict, have essential information about the person, and have exhausted all other channels to contact their missing relative.

Red Cross Messages (RCMs) are written messages sent between prisoners of war and their relatives through Red Cross channels, usually when no other communication is possible. Red Cross Message service may also be available to civilian victims of war, especially when postal services have completely collapsed.

The length of time it takes for RCMs to reach a chapter/station can be affected by delays in getting the RCM out of the conflict area/ refugees camp. Our goal is to mail all RCMs to chapters within 10 days or less from the date they are received from overseas. High RCM volume at times prevents us from meeting that standard.

There are currently 185 Red Cross and Red Crescent national societies.

Scientific data shows that people who donate blood for altruistic reasons are the safest blood donors. As an extra layer of safety to the blood supply, Red Cross accepts only volunteer blood donors.

No. HIV and other transmissible viruses cannot be contracted through blood donation. The equipment used is sterile and used only once, then immediately discarded, and new needle is used for each donation. Phlebotomists work in a sterile environment throughout the blood donation.

The Holland Laboratory has strong programs in the basic sciences related to transfusion medicine and carries out development work in support of Red Cross Biomedical Services programs. A scientific staff of more than 250 focuses on:

Improving the safety and efficacy of blood services in the United States
Studying the molecular biology of blood and the immune response
Developing new biomedical products and technologies that will address the health needs of patients worldwide.
Goals include finding improved ways to produce needed therapeutic plasma products, developing methods of eliminating residual infectious agents from tested donor blood, and finding new applications for Red Cross products. The Holland Laboratory has also undertaken collaborative efforts with several biotechnology companies and research hospitals in order to translate our research into the production of lifesaving products.

In addition to the Holland Laboratory, about a dozen Red Cross Blood Services regions are involved in local research and development programs, often in collaboration with universities and large teaching hospitals around the country.

To donate tissue, you can sign a donor card or indicate your decision to become an organ and tissue donor on your driver's license. It is also important to share the decision with your family, because next of kin is always asked for consent of donation.

The American Red Cross is a nonprofit organization that supplies almost half of the nation's blood supply by working with more than 4 million donors and 3,000 hospitals. We rely on the generous gifts volunteer blood donors provide us. In order for the Red Cross to make that gift available to patients in need, we must collect, store, test and process the blood. There are significant costs associated with each of these processes, and in order for us to continue making one person's donation available to someone else who needs it, we must charge for the testing and processing of the blood to recoup these costs.

-Provided emergency communication between members of the armed forces and their families
-Recruited 104,456 registered nurses and certified them for the military
-Collected 13.4 million pints of blood for military patients
-Assembled and shipped nearly 28 million food and medicine parcels for U.S. and Allied prisoners of war
-Provided war relief supplies for 75 million civilians overseas
-Carried on extensive relief and rehabilitation programs for the civilian war victims
-Stockpiled plasma from the new Red Cross Blood Donor Service for the armed forces. Red Cross blood was used immediately at hospitals near the bombing of Pearl Harbor to save the first of many lives over the next four years
-Overseas, thousands of American Red Cross workers operated recreation clubs and clubmobiles in rest and recreation areas or provided compassionate services for the troops they accompanied
-Red Cross caseworkers and recreation staff were attached to military hospitals, hospital ships, and hospital trains

The Red Cross mission is to keep the American people in touch with their family members serving in the armed forces. To accomplish this work, Red Cross workers frequently deploy on assignment with military forces to keep the communication link operational around the clock and around the globe. Other Red Cross services are made available to military personnel on an as needed basis just as they are in the civilian communities.

Assisting the American people to communicate with their family members serving in the Armed Forces was a mandate from the U.S. Congress to the American Red Cross many years ago. The majority of family members needing this assistance live in civilian communities far removed from military installations and many do not know how to reach a family member stationed in the military. They can and do, however, call their local Red Cross chapter where workers are available around the clock to assist.

Over 95 percent of the family emergencies requiring the presence of a military service member begin back home with the death/serious illness of a father, mother, grandparent or other close relative. Once the local Red Cross has verified all details relating to the emergency, information is sent to the service member stationed anywhere worldwide. The family may want this information shared with military commands that will decide if the service member will be granted emergency leave to come home. Commanders overseas and on ships at sea frequently require Red Cross verification before emergency leave is granted.

Military leaders are the first to say they do not have the capacity to verify and validate family emergencies or to get in touch with families back home. They turn to the Red Cross for this information, which is frequently transmitted over the Department of Defense (DOD) communications systems from one Red Cross worker to another.

Zip Code Locator
Throughout the American Red Cross Web site you will find a Zip Code Locator. It is simple to use. Enter your zip code at home, or work, or of the location in which you would like to serve. Press enter and you will be directed to the local Red Cross unit nearest your desired location.


Local Red Cross Unit Websites
Many local Red Cross units have their own Web sites. This Web site may have additional information about local volunteer opportunities.

The American Red Cross is a not funded by the government, and so depends on the generosity of its financial donors to provide the funds that support its $4.1 billion budget. It is governed by a volunteer Board of Governors, which in turn charters our 990 chapters and 36 blood regions to deliver services at the local level.

The American Red Cross, a humanitarian organization led by volunteers and people, guided by its Congressional Charter and the Fundamental Principles of the International Red Cross Movement, will provide relief to victims of disasters and help people prevent, prepare for, and respond to emergencies.

As the largest humanitarian organization in the United States, the Red Cross depends on volunteers to accomplish the organization's mission: providing relief to victims of disasters and helping people prevent, prepare for, and respond to emergencies. To prepare volunteers for this, we provide training for most volunteer positions, with the level of training varying according to the requirements of the position and the qualifications of the individual. Volunteers serve at all levels of the Red Cross, including:

-Serving on the national Board of Governors and boards of local chapters and Blood Services regions.
-Serving in management positions such as leaders of youth councils, supervisors on disaster relief operations, and chapter (local unit) managers.
-Performing direct services such as AFES casework; disaster response; training in CPR, first aid, and HIV/AIDS education; and supporting bloodmobiles.
-Performing support activities such as volunteer recruitment, marketing and public relations; fund raising; human resources management; and fiscal management.
-Serving on advisory groups, task forces and committees at the local, state and national levels.
-Teaching International Humanitarian Law courses and providing tracing, message and reunion services.
-Delivering services to youth.

Each year the American Red Cross mobilizes relief to victims of more than 60,000 disasters nationwide and has been the major supplier of blood and blood products in the United States for over 50 years. The American Red Cross also trains more than 11 million people in vital life saving skills, provides direct health services to 1.8 million people; provides more than 22 million locally relevant community services, assists international disaster and conflict victims in more than 50 countries, and transmits more than 500,000 emergency messages between members of the U. S. Armed Forces and their families.

Over 1.2 million people volunteered for the American Red Cross in FY2002. Ninety-seven percent of American Red Cross staff are volunteers. Adults over 25 comprise about 66% of Red Cross volunteers, while youth and young adults make up about 34%.

A Red Cross volunteer is an individual who, beyond the responsibilities of paid employment, freely assists the American Red Cross in the accomplishment of its mission without expectation or receipt of compensation.

Volunteer Match
http://www.volunteermatch.org

More than 200 local American Red Cross units list volunteer opportunities on the VolunteerMatch website. VolunteerMatch, the organization's premier service, utilizes the power of the Internet to help individuals nationwide find volunteer opportunities posted by local nonprofit and public sector organizations.

VolunteerMatch's powerful online database allows volunteers to search thousands of one-time and ongoing opportunities by zip code, category, and date. Then signup automatically by email for those that fit their interest and schedule. Contributing organizations post their own opportunities, giving volunteers easy access to an accurate and diverse source of activities.

Red Cross disaster relief focuses on meeting the emergency disaster-caused needs of individuals and families. When a disaster threatens or strikes, we provide shelter, food, and health and mental health services, which address basic human needs. In addition, we help individuals and families to resume their normal daily activities independently. This may include a referral or a way to pay for what is needed most: groceries, new clothes, rent, emergency home repairs, transportation, household items, medicines, and occupational tools.

The Red Cross may also help those needing long-term recovery assistance when all other available resources, including insurance, government, private, and community assistance, are either unavailable or inadequate to meet the needs. All assistance is based on verified disaster-caused needs and all assistance is free—literally a gift as a result of the generous support of the American people.

The Red Cross also feeds disaster victims and emergency workers, handles inquiries from concerned immediate family members outside the disaster-affected area, provides blood and blood products to disaster victims, and links disaster victims to other available resources.

Primary responsibility for the general health of a community following a disaster rests with the local public health authorities and local medical, nursing, and health resources. Ill or injured persons normally look to their own physicians or the usual community health facilities for the type of care they need. The Red Cross supplements the existing community health care system when disasters threaten or strike.

Red Cross Disaster Health Services staff deliver first aid and attend to other health-related matters. Based on a person's needs, the Red Cross may also help pay for certain medical needs, including prescription medicines, medical supplies, and emergency medical treatment.

The Red Cross coordinates its disaster health services efforts with those of the local health authorities and the medical and nursing communities. All activities and services provided by Red Cross Disaster Health Services workers reflect quality health care and current professional standards of health care. All Red Cross disaster health services workers must have a current license or certificate in their field of expertise.

The American Red Cross Disaster Mental Health Services staff are licensed mental health professionals trained to recognize the emotional impact of a disaster on those affected—both victims and workers. They help people recognize, understand, and cope with the specific feelings they experience after a disaster. They work with the local mental health community to ensure both short-term and long-term assistance is available.

The response to international disasters is coordinated through the American Red Cross International Services Department. Depending on the size and scope of the disaster and the capabilities of the affected Red Cross national society, it may request help through the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. In many cases, the affected Red Cross society is seeking personnel with a special expertise, such as a logistics or mass feeding background.

Following Hurricane Mitch in the fall of 1998, American Red Cross Disaster Services, in conjunction with International Services, formed the International Response Team for the Caribbean Basin and Central America to help the affected national societies with planning and preparedness prior to a major disaster and with rapid needs assessment following a disaster.

The more than 750 Red Cross chapters across the country are required to respond with services to an incident within two hours of being notified. These local chapters conduct disaster training as well as planning and preparedness, to help them respond quickly and effectively when a disaster occurs.

Human and material resources, such as disaster specialists and disaster relief supplies, are located in high-risk areas. This helps to ensure a quick response when a disaster occurs. Immediately after a disaster incident is reported, we begin to mobilize personnel and other resources to provide services such as sheltering and feeding survivors. The local chapter with the help of other chapters in the state quickly assesses the size and scope of the incident. If help from beyond the state will be needed, a request goes immediately to national headquarters so that supplies can be sent and people recruited as soon as possible.

All components of the Disaster Services Program, from planning to response, offer opportunities for youth involvement. During a disaster relief operation, youth are most frequently involved in damage assessment, mass care (feeding and shelter programs), and family service. Youth can also be involved in all aspects of large-scale (national) disaster relief operations on the local level.

The American Red Cross and the nation's schools have been working hand-in-hand to help meet the educational and service needs of young people since 1917, when President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed the expansion of the Red Cross to include the Junior Red Cross.

Today, more than 90 percent of all ARC units report having working relationships with their local school systems, providing Red Cross courses as well as volunteer service opportunities that help students learn about the importance of social responsibility and caring for others. Red Cross clubs both at the elementary and high school levels are also very popular, allowing youth to volunteer for the American Red Cross and provide community service right from their schools.

There is no minimum age, but youth volunteers generally range in age from 5 to 18 years old.

The ARC has been offering young people opportunities in education and training for more than 85 years. These opportunities provide both elementary and high school-aged youth with life saving skills. Youth learn how to stay safe through first aid classes, aquatics, HIV/AIDS education and community disaster education. We are also committed to providing youth with meaningful opportunities for volunteering and community service.

Youth are involved in almost every aspect of the American Red Cross. The American Red Cross offers youth, age 18 and younger, many opportunities in community service and volunteerism. Red Cross youth respond to disasters, provide education to their peers and other community members on how to stay safe, and support Red Cross blood drives through recruiting blood donors and sponsoring blood drives. As peer educators, youth teach members of their community about water safety, CPR and first aid, community disaster education, HIV/AIDS, international humanitarian law, and baby sitting.

Red Cross youth volunteers also provide a number of support services to patients in Veteran's Administration and military hospitals, raise funds for the organization, staff first aid booths in their community. Youth serve on Red Cross Chapter boards and on national committees for our organization as well.