American Red Cross: 10 Ways to Keep Trick or Treaters Safe This Halloween

Halloween is just days away. Fast becoming one of the most popular holidays in this country, masses of little superheroes, cartoon and television characters will soon be out in their neighborhoods for trick or treat fun. The American Red Cross has ten tips parents can follow to help keep the kids safe while enjoying the festivities.

  1. Trick-or-treaters need to see and be seen.
    – Use face makeup instead of masks which make seeing difficult.
    – Give trick-or-treaters a flashlight to light their way.
    – Add reflective tape to costumes and trick-or-treat bags.
    – Have everyone wear light-colored clothing.
  2. Use flame-resistant costumes.
  3. Make sure adults know where the kids are going. A parent or responsible adult should accompany young children door-to-door.
  4. Be cautious around animals, especially dogs.
  5. Walk, don’t run.
  6. Only visit homes that have a porch light on. Accept treats at the door – never go inside.
  7. Walk only on the sidewalks, not in the street.
    – If no sidewalk is available, walk at the edge of the roadway, facing traffic.
    – Look both ways before crossing the street, and cross only at the corner.
    – Don’t cut across yards or use alleys.
    – Don’t cross between parked cars.
    – Drivers – use extra caution. The youngsters may forget to look both ways before crossing.
  8. A grown-up should check the goodies before eating.
    – Make sure to remove loose candy, open packages and choking hazards.
    – Discard any items with brand names that you are not familiar with.
  9. If you are planning to welcome trick-or-treaters to your home, follow these safety steps:
  10. Light the area well so young visitors can see.
  11. Sweep leaves from your sidewalks and steps. Clear your porch or front yard of obstacles someone could trip over.

Fight Against the Opioid Epidemic

Opioid overdose deaths have skyrocketed during the pandemic, killing more than 69,000 people in 2020.

As the opioid epidemic continues to ravage too many communities, Aquatic Solutions is taking a significant step that, we hope, will help save lives with the American Red Cross Naloxone(also known as Narcan) Program.

Saving lives, with minimal training

For those wondering about the safety of this step — having the nasal spray available to anyone to administer — addictions experts and public health officials say it’s safe. Administering the nasal spray is something anyone can do, with just a little training. Naloxone does not require medical training to administer, and there are no harmful effects if it’s given to someone not experiencing an overdose.

Signing up for this training is made easy!  Check out our full schedule today.


Sources:

https://time.com/6129899/opioid-overdose-west-virginia/

https://chicago.suntimes.com/2022/1/10/22872675/chicago-public-library-overdose-reversal-medication-narcan-opioids-public-health

https://www.verywellmind.com/why-you-should-take-narcan-training-right-now-5194545

Healthcare Suite Highlight

Aquatic Solutions is so much more than Aquatics.  We are the leading Provider in American Red Cross training and have constantly been eager to get the newest programming to the community.  The recent updates for the healthcare programs have been incorporated from the International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation (ILCOR) 2020 International Consensus on Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Emergency Cardiovascular Care Science with Treatment Recommendations and the American Red Cross Focused Updates and Guidelines 2020.

Advanced Life Support (ALS)

Aquatic Solutions is with the times and brings all training needs to the community.  With the release of the Advanced Life Support program in 2019 Aquatic Solutions was one of the first to teach this with trained Red Cross Instructors.  Sign up for a class now to check out this awesome program!

First Aid For Severe Trauma (coming soon)

With the new release of this program Aquatic Solutions is taking steps to offer this program to the community.  This program will be a great addition for communities as uncontrolled bleeding is the leading cause of preventable death from trauma.

The American Red Cross First Aid for Severe Trauma (FAST) program provides participants with the knowledge and skills they need to respond to an emergency involving life-threatening bleeding, including how to:

  • Recognize a life-threatening bleeding emergency.
  • Ensure safety and communicate effectively in an emergency.
  • Control life-threatening bleeding using direct pressure, a tourniquet, or both. The program is designed to enhance participants’ ability to take decisive, lifesaving action to assist a person with a traumatic injury and life-threatening bleeding until professional responders arrive.

Basic Life Support (BLS)

With busy schedules, Aquatic Solutions has always been up and front when it came to healthcare providers finding training so we answered with an abundance of offerings.  The American Red Cross Basic Life Support (BLS) course is designed to train healthcare

professionals including nurses, physicians, EMS professionals, and other healthcare and public

safety personnel to respond to breathing and cardiac emergencies in adults, children and infants.

Content in this program is consistent with:

  • The International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation (ILCOR) 2020 International
    Consensus on Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Emergency Cardiovascular Care
    Science with Treatment Recommendations.
  • The American Red Cross Focused Updates and Guidelines 2020

Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS)

The Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) course emphasizes providing high-quality patient care by integrating psychomotor skills, rhythm interpretation, electrical interventions and pharmacologic knowledge with critical thinking and problem solving to achieve the best possible outcomes for pediatric patients.  Join our waitlist in your area to sign up for the course.  Email us for your interest.

American Red Cross Training Near ME

Aquatic Solutions takes Training near me to another level.  Over the last few decades Aquatic Solutions has been expanding to many locations around the country to better service the community with high quality safety training courses.  Our mission to provide these courses to help save and sustain life.

Many jobs require up to date lifesaving skills because they address health emergencies every day – people such as health care providers, first responders, and lifeguards. Others, including teachers and babysitters, are entrusted with precious young lives that could require aid on a moment’s notice.

Those of us who don’t face health emergencies every day can also benefit from Red Cross training. With a wide array of Lifeguarding, Caregiving and Babysitting, and Swimming and Water Safety courses the Red Cross can provide you with the training and skills you need to prevent, prepare for and respond to emergencies.

American Red Cross Training

If you are in need of training check out the programs and location for your next training:

The Aquatic Solutions Health and Safety Promise!

Enter the Aquatic Solutions Safe Zone, leave even safer!!

The Health and Safety for our participants is our top priority. We take very diligent steps in making sure the mannequins and equipment used in all our courses are properly sanitized according to the American Red Cross guidelines.

Ways you are protected:

  • Brand NEW Pocket Face Masks! – Professional Rescuer and Health Care Provider classes (Adult and Pediatric Face Mask Included – Yours to Keep)
  • Brand NEW Breathing Barrier – First aid/CPR/AED (lay Responder Classes
  • FREE Hand Sanitizer bottle – Yours to Keep
  • Hand Sanitizer Station and handwashing breaks
  • Brand NEW Single-use, hospital grade, Nitrile Gloves and First Aid Equipment
  • Wearing of masks and social distancing are fully enforced in accordance with CDC and American Red Cross guidelines.
  • Equipment extensively sanitized after each use with at least 70% alcohol-based sanitizer. We use upwards of 91% as well.
  • Reduced Class sizes
  • MERV-13 Filters!

New York Post: Why Pools Are Facing A Severe Lifeguard Shortage

The hottie European lifeguards often seen strutting their stuff around private pool clubs will be nowhere to be found July 4.

Recruiters up and down the East Coast are reporting a severe shortage of the exchange students they’ve relied on for years — and they’re blaming visa issues.

“In the last year or so, we’ve seen dramatic ups and downs from certain countries that have long been where these pool management companies have been recruiting from. So we’re seeing dramatic (changes) with the visa denial rate,” said Jennifer Hatfield, director of government relations for the Association of Pool and Spa Professionals.

Brian Bergeski, president of American Pool in New Jersey, said he has got enough domestic lifeguards to cover his clients, but the visa problem at other companies has set off a “bidding war” for students as young as 15.

“There are pools that to date are still not open,” Bergeski said of his competitors. “It’s probably the hardest staffing year.”

Recruiters sounded the alarm in May and predicted — accurately — that some pools would have to close because there was no one to oversee safety.

Authorities in Allentown, Pa., closed one public pool and limited hours at three others because they can’t find enough guards.

B.J. Fisher, health and safety director for the American Lifeguard Association, said a shortage of domestic lifeguards coupled with the “unprecedented” J-1 visa troubles have made for a “double storm.”

He said increased vetting and the Trump administration’s fiery rhetoric have hurt recruitment of foreign lifeguards, who must pay their own way.

“The concern is they spend the money and then at the last minute they get denied,” Fisher said.

Meanwhile, American students are shunning lifeguard gigs for other opportunities.

On Staten Island, recruiter June Tata starting offering incentives. In addition to a referral bonus, Tata is reimbursing teens with good grades the cost for their lifeguard certification – which runs upwards of $400 in New York City.

“I needed more guards,” said Tata, operations manager of the Pool Therapist on Staten Island. “I have so many facilities I have to staff with multiple guards that I needed to be able to get the word out there that you want to work for Pool Therapist.”

The State Department insists it hasn’t made major changes to the Summer Work Travel Program.

But there were fewer visas granted from eastern European countries that are usually a major source of the pool guards.

The number of student visas for Serbia and Ukraine dropped by more than a third from May 2017 to this year. Moldova, Poland and Russia also had decreased.

Pool operators predict a crisis situation over Labor Day after many student lifeguards head back to school in America and abroad.
“Come August it’s going to be rough,” said Andy Slutsky, owner of Aquatic Solutions, which offers American Red Cross lifeguard training certification classes on Long Island and in New York City.

“The one thing that I do fear is that places … will cut corners. I know there is heavy desire to satisfy management …but my only hope is if they don’t have life guards, they shouldn’t be opening their pools. They need to staff accordingly, because the last thing anybody wants is to be in the headlines (for a tragedy).”

The American Lifeguard Association estimates that 20 percent more lifeguards are required this summer for swimmers to be safe at the 309,000 pools nationwide.

The association is encouraging retirees to become certified lifeguards to create a “silver” guard force.

The city Parks Department said it doesn’t rely on foreign lifeguards and is fully staffed at its pools and beaches.

Read Article on New York Post

Taking Important Aquatic Management and Coaching Courses During COVID19 Pandemic

The 2020 summer season is fast approaching and the Red Cross and Aquatic Solutions have been working hard to provide the necessary training you will need for work.  As the situation around the COVID-19 pandemic evolves, many of us are staying in our homes and practicing social distancing to help stop or slow down the spread of COVID-19 virus.

 
This makes it the perfect time to take these courses for the aquatic and coaching world.  Take advantage of Aquatic Solutions Bundle and Save courses that include both the online portion and necessary in-person portion(to be scheduled when government orders on social distancing ease)
 
Check out the courses we have available:
Also, check out the other American Red Cross online course available:

Stay Home While Learning to Save a Life During the COVID-19 Pandemic

As the situation around the COVID-19 pandemic evolves, many of us are staying in our homes and practicing social distancing to help stop or slow down the spread of COVID-19 virus.

This is the perfect time to take an American Red Cross online class to learn lifesaving skills such as first aid and CPR. Training can give you the skills and confidence to act in an emergency and save a life.

Designed by experts, the American Red Cross online-only classes provide an interactive and engaging method to learning essential safety and preparedness information and skills. When you choose a class that is entirely online, you don’t have the opportunity to demonstrate your skill proficiency to a certified instructor, and therefore, may not meet the requirements for workplace safety certification.

Online course offerings include:

Click here to check out the Additional Courses that are available.

DOWNLOAD APPS & ACTIVATE FIRST-AID SKILL Free Red Cross apps such as First Aid and Pet First Aid are available for mobile devices to help you be prepared, stay safe and save lives. The apps can be downloaded in app stores or at redcross.org/apps.

Activate the Red Cross First Aid Skill for Alexa-enabled devices. Test your first aid knowledge and take the first aid quiz.

How to become an American Red Cross Certified Lifeguard

If you are at least 15 years old and need a Job, we have a wonderful opportunity for you… Lifeguarding! Aquatic Solutions was ranked in 2017 by the American Red Cross as the # 1 authorized provider in aquatics and will likely be again for 2018. Being an American Red Cross Certified Lifeguard opens you up to many rewarding opportunities and the pay for Lifeguards has never been higher than today.

By taking the American Red Cross Lifeguarding class with Aquatic Solutions you will be considered having a “Gold Standard” for your training. Aquatic Solutions Lifeguards are in great demand because of the high quality training we provide and the real world preparation we instill in our Lifeguards. You as a lifeguard will be well prepared for that guard chair.

Our students have virtually no issue finding a Lifeguard position with minimum pay at around $16.00/hr reaching towards $20.00/hr and more at some places. We also offer internal staffing services for full and part time work as they are available with our partner facilities.

Aquatic Solutions offers reasonably priced classes and all of our Lifeguarding classes include CPR/AED for the Professional Rescuer and First Aid certification AND includes a Pocket Face Mask combo set (Adult and Pediatric masks) that are YOURS to keep. We also offer an optional Waterfront Lifeguarding add-on module for people who love the beach, sun and surf! In addition, if you live in Nassau County NY, we also offer a course to help prepare individuals for the Nassau County Certifications.

Registering for a Lifeguarding class in New York is easy on our website. Feel free to ask a question and get the accurate answer quickly on our live chat that is staffed with Lifeguarding Instructors and Instructor Trainers who eat, drink and swim this business!

We offer numerous offerings and locations as well as the best group of Lifeguarding Instructors who make every class an enjoyable and fun experience. We also have regular discounts for our classes and our website is very mobile optimized so you can book the class from your phone. You are just a click away to a great career that is not only fun but pays incredible.

Register today for our American Red Cross Lifeguarding course, an amazing Aquatic Solution for your employment for years to come!! Also, after you lifeguard for a while you can think about becoming a Lifeguarding Instructor and maybe work with us!

Treating Cardiac Arrest: A Joint Statement from the American Heart Association and American Red Cross on CPR Training and Education

 

The American Red Cross and the American Heart Association (AHA) are both committed to preventing deaths from cardiac arrest through its educational programs and public awareness; these two organizations provide more people with knowledge on CPR and advocates for increased and continued CPR funding and resuscitation methods. CPR educational programs from both organizations (AHA & Red Cross) corresponds with the recommendations in the most current and comprehensive review of published resuscitation literature: the 2010 International Consensus on Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and Emergency Cardiovascular Care (ECC) Science with Treatment Recommendations.

As leaders in CPR education, both at national and international level, the Red Cross and the AHA are releasing a joint statement that emphasizes that CPR educational programs from both organizations are valid scientifically and demonstrates the most current and effective methods. Although both programs form each organization on CPR aligns with current methods of resuscitation, there are minor variations in their methods of approach for assessing victims as well as treating cardiac arrest in kids and special situations like drowning. How the methods of approach and assessment vary is dependent on the experience level of the potential rescuers and the type of victims they come across.

  • The Red Cross and AHA have separate educational materials and CPR guidelines. However, CPR guidelines and training materials developed by both bodies are scientifically valid, making sure all individuals receiving education and training are up to date with current methods.
  • According to evidence of improved results, both bodies (AHA & Red Cross) emphasizes on the relevance of the chain of Survival; these include early recognition of cardiac arrest, early activation of emergency response, early CPR, rapid defibrillation, effective advanced life support, and integrated post-cardiac arrest care.
  • Both organizations agree that the right method of assessment is described better using the A-B-C sequence; Airway, Breathing, and Circulation.
  • Both organizations recognize how important it is to modify the approach when educating people on assessment; this is dependent on the abilities of the providers receiving training as well as the illness and injuries they may come across.
  • According to the AHA training, rescuers are to check for unresponsiveness and absence of normal breathing as indicators of cardiac arrest. Also, healthcare providers are shown how to check for pulse for up to ten seconds and apply the A-B-C sequence during primary
  • Rescuers are taught by the Red Cross to open the airway, check for breathing, and also check for unresponsiveness and absence of regular breathing as indicators of cardiac arrest. For rescuers who may experience injuries and illness that are different from the usual, this method makes it easy for them to identify and address all life threats.
  • Both organizations agree that early and effective chest compressions can improve the outcome of cardiac arrest victims who are adults. Thus, when cardiac arrest is recognized in adults, CPR must start first with compressions followed by For students to recall the appropriate sequence of steps for CPR, the mnemonic C-A-B (Chest compressions, Airways, Breathing) should be the general method to CPR performance.
  • Pediatric CPR educational programs from both organizations (Red Cross and AHA) are designed in accordance with the most current resuscitation science. Nevertheless, due to the dissimilarities in the scope of the target audiences, the training programs, and the kind of illness or victims the trained providers and rescuers may encounter, the methods of educational differ.
  • The AHA teaches a universal approach on how CPR is performed for victims under cardiac arrest.
  • The Red Cross educate students to provide two breaths to drawing victims, and pediatric become commencing the C-A-B sequence for CPR.
  • Both organizations agree that despite the variations in their approaches for assessing victims and treating cardiac arrest, both methods are valid and conform with the 2010 International Consensus on CPR and ECC Science with Treatment Recommendations.

Both organizations, the American Red Cross and the American Heart Association (AHA) have a mutual interest to improve the results following cardiac arrest by providing people with knowledge on CPR and also to advocate for increased and continued CPR funding and resuscitation science.

Aquatic Solutions offers professional emergency training that deals with CPR/AED and First Aid. Visit our schedule tab to see all of our available classes. Servicing all of Long Island, Queens, and New York City.