MORGANTOWN — The Allegheny Highlands Chapter of the American Red Cross will be hosting Virtual Preparedness Sessions for the general public beginning this week.

In order to help communities prepare for, respond to and recover from disasters, the Red Cross is providing the lifesaving courses in order to train adults and older youth to be ready when catastrophes strike.

The Community Preparedness Education Program sessions are running in conjunction with March being Red Cross Month across the country. For close to 80 years, United States presidents have proclaimed March as Red Cross Months to recognize Americans participating in its lifesaving mission, which is powered by a workforce that is more than 90 percent volunteers.

“We provide lifesaving courses that train people to respond to emergencies,” said Jason Keeling, executive director of the American Red Cross of the Allegheny Highlands. “Taking steps to prepare can help people stay safe by responding appropriately when disasters strike.”

The Allegheny Highlands Chapter of the American Red Cross is offering three training sessions including: Be Red Cross Ready; Ready Rating; and Hands-Only CPR.

The first session with the “Ready Rating” class will be held on March 2 from 11 a.m. until 6 p.m. The class is a organizational emergency preparedness program that helps organizations of all types prepare appropriately, respond effectively and recover quickly from disasters and other emergencies. Ready rating tools meet or exceed the minimum standards for organizational preparedness set by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).

The second session will be the “Hands Only CPR” course on March 3 from 11 a.m. until 6 p.m. During this session individuals will learn the knowledge, skill and confidence required to administer hands-only CPR during sudden cardiac arrest emergencies that occur outside of a hospital setting.

The “Be Red Cross Ready” session will be on March 4 from 11 a.m. until 6 p.m. This course is an introductory module on emergency preparedness on a local hazard learning how to prepare, respond appropriately and basic steps to stay safe after a disaster.

To register for any of the session go to https://rdcrss.org/3oVBcf4. For more information, contact Keeling at Jason.Keeling2@redcross.org.