What movie made me cry?
What’s the last movie that made you cry?
Joe Dirt – laughed so hard tears ran down my legs.
BEFORE AIRPOWER COULD FLY, TRADESMEN HAD TO BUILD THE RUNWAY.
If you work in commercial construction, heavy civil, or facility maintenance, take two minutes to read this.
Because air superiority doesn’t start with jet fuel or fighter pilots.
It starts with bulldozers, asphalt plants, structural steel, and dirt movers.
It starts with U.S. Air Force Civil Engineers.
The Vietnam Problem That Built the Force
In the early 1960s as the Vietnam War escalated, the newly independent U.S. Air Force realized a glaring weakness: jets can fly at Mach 2, but they can’t launch from thick jungle or mortar-pocked dirt roads.
When enemy fire blew massive craters into runways or wiped out base utilities, the Air Force couldn’t wait weeks for conventional military support to mobilize. They needed organic, elite construction units that could drop into austere wilderness, clear miles of jungle, pave operational airfields, set up entire tent cities, and fix a bombed-out runway in under two hours.
The solution came in two legendary forms: Prime BEEF and RED HORSE.
- Prime BEEF (Base Engineer Emergency Force): Created in October 1964. Rapid-response engineering teams tasked with emergency base repair, rapid runway repair (RRR), fire protection, structural crash response, and keeping forward bases operational under direct attack.
- RED HORSE (Rapid Engineer Deployable Heavy Operations Repair Squadron Engineers): Authorized in 1965. The Air Force’s dedicated heavy-civil construction force. Fully self-sufficient, highly mobile units equipped with heavy earthmovers, asphalt/concrete plants, and rock crushers, capable of building massive base infrastructure from scratch in hostile zones.
Their motto says it all: “Engineers Lead the Way.”
Paving Runways Under Fire
During the Vietnam War, RED HORSE squadrons built entire airbases like Cam Ranh Bay and Phu Cat—moving millions of cubic yards of earth while surrounded by enemy territory.
When mortar shells tore 10-foot craters into active runways, Prime BEEF teams didn’t evacuate; they grabbed heavy equipment and quick-setting concrete mixes. They pioneered Rapid Runway Repair, dropping into crater sites and restoring operational takeoff capability in 90 minutes or less while combat sorties waited on the taxiway.
From the sands of the Middle East to hurricane disaster zones across the U.S., these dirt boys, structure specialists, and utility pros have consistently proven that airpower is rooted in civil construction.
What These Air Force Ratings Bring to Your Job Site
When an Air Force veteran walks into your hiring manager’s office with Civil Engineering experience on their resume, you aren’t looking at standard military support. You’re looking at a battle-tested trade specialist:
USAF CE Specialty Code (AFSC) | Civilian Equivalent | High-Value Skillset |
Pavements & Construction Equipment (3E2X1) | Heavy Equipment Operator / Grading Superintendent | Bulldozer, excavator, grader operation; asphalt/concrete paving, soil compaction, site grading. |
Structural (3E3X1) | Commercial Framer / Mason / Welder | Heavy timber, concrete forms, masonry, structural steel fabrication, welding. |
Electrical Systems / Power Prod (3E0X1 / 3E0X2) | Journeyman Electrician / Industrial Power Tech | High-voltage distribution, industrial generator plant maintenance, airfield lighting systems. |
Heating, Ventilation, AC (3E1X1) | Commercial HVAC / Refrigeration Tech | Industrial HVAC units, chiller plants, environmental control systems in austere environments. |
Water & Fuel Systems (3E4X1) | Plumber / Pipefitter / Utilities Tech | Underground utility lines, fuel storage networks, backflow assembly, water purification. |
Engineering Aid (3E5X1) | Civil Drafter / Surveyor / QC Inspector | Total station surveying, AutoCAD/GIS, soil density testing, quality control management. |
Why Contractors Need Red Horse & Prime Beef Vets
Air Force Civil Engineers don’t just know how to run equipment or read blueprints—they operate under strict military standards, rigorous safety protocols, and tight logistical constraints. A RED HORSE operator knows how to keep a fleet running when spare parts are weeks away, and a Prime BEEF superintendent knows how to organize a multi-trade emergency repair with zero downtime.
The next time you see USAF Red Horse or Prime BEEF on a candidate’s background:
- Don’t ask if they’re used to hard work.
- Ask how many square yards of concrete they poured in a single shift.
- Ask how they managed logistics on remote site builds.
- Ask how they handled a site project when everything went wrong.
Before a single jet takes off, someone has to grade the soil, pour the pad, run the high-voltage lines, and erect the steel. Give these airmen a hard hat, and watch your job site run like clockwork.
BUILD. DRIVE. LEAD.
A MESSAGE TO CONSTRUCTION EMPLOYERS
When U.S. NAVY — SEABEE, AIR FORCE — RED HORSE/PRIME BEEF, or ARMY ENGINEER appears on a résumé, don’t treat the military portion as an interesting footnote.
Ask:
What did you build?
What equipment did you operate?
How many people did you lead?
What projects did you manage?
What utilities did you install?
What did you do when equipment failed?
What safety responsibilities did you have?
What happened when the schedule went sideways?
Because you may not be interviewing someone who is trying to enter construction.
You may be interviewing someone who has already been doing it—
just in places where failure had consequences considerably greater than missing substantial completion.
BEFORE THERE WERE SEABEES, THERE WERE TRADESMEN.
If you work in construction, take two minutes to read this.
One of the most legendary combat organizations in American history didn’t start with infantrymen.
It started with construction workers.
Carpenters. Electricians. Equipment operators. Mechanics. Plumbers. Welders. Steelworkers. Surveyors. Engineers. Men who knew how to build a operating staging base out of raw mud and saltwater.
The Problem That Created an Empire of Builders
Add Your Heading Text Here
The Problem That Created an Empire of Builders
As World War II loomed, the U.S. Navy faced a critical vulnerability: it needed airfields, docks, roads, and hospitals built right on the razor’s edge of the front lines.
Civilian contractors were already on site, but international law barred them from firing back when attacked. Send in civilians, and you hand the enemy easy targets. Send in standard infantry, and nothing gets built.
Rear Admiral Ben Moreell saw the solution: Form military construction units out of master tradesmen.
- January 1942: First construction units authorized.
- March 5, 1942: Official designation approved—Construction Battalions. C.B.s. Seabees.
- Motto: Construimus, Batuimus — “We Build, We Fight.â€
- Culture: CAN DO.
The Navy didn’t recruit kids and teach them how to run a dozer; they recruited seasoned tradesmen and taught them how to shoot. By the war’s end, 325,000 men across 60+ trades served as Seabees.
Heavy Civil Under Fire
Across the Pacific, European, and Mediterranean theaters, Seabees laid down the literal groundwork for victory:
- Normandy (D-Day): Cleared beach obstacles, anchored pontoon causeways, and moved heavy equipment under direct artillery fire.
- Island Hopping: Carved operational airfields out of dense jungle within days of an amphibious assault.
- Combat Innovation: Operating a bulldozer during a landing, Seabee Anthony Tassone used his blade as a shield to charge and crush an enemy pillbox. He was awarded the Silver Star.
During WWII alone, Seabees earned 33 Silver Stars, 5 Navy Crosses, and suffered hundreds of ultimate sacrifices. Years later in Vietnam, Construction Mechanic Third Class Marvin G. Shields would become the first and only Seabee to earn the Medal of Honor after defending his compound and destroying an enemy machine-gun nest despite lethal injuries.
Why Construction Executives Need to Care
That legacy didn’t end in 1945, 1975, or 2011. Modern Seabees return from deployments into our civilian hiring pools every single day.
When a resume lands on your desk with U.S. Navy Seabee listed on it, don’t just glance at the military jargon. Look at the asset standing in front of you:
Seabee Rating | Civilian Equivalent | Core Capability |
Builder (BU) | Carpenter / Mason / Framer | Structural timber, concrete, masonry, finish carpentry. |
Construction Electrician (CE) | Journeyman / Master Electrician | High-voltage distribution, power generation, structural wiring. |
Equipment Operator (EO) | Heavy Equipment Operator | Excavators, dozers, graders, cranes, directional drilling. |
Steelworker (SW) | Structural Ironworker / Welder | Rigging, structural steel erection, heavy MIG/TIG welding. |
Utilitiesman (UT) | Master Plumber / HVAC Tech | Underground utilities, water purification, pipefitting, HVAC. |
Construction Mechanic (CM) | Heavy Diesel Technician | Fleet maintenance, hydraulic systems, diagnostic repair. |
The Challenge to the Industry
Beyond trade certifications, a veteran Seabee brings high-stakes site management, strict OSHA/military safety compliance, crisis leadership, and a baseline refusal to fail when a project plan goes off the rails.
The next time you review a veteran’s application:
Don’t just ask what their rank was.
Ask what they built.
Ask what machinery they ran in zero-visibility conditions.
Ask how they solved the problem when the supply chain failed completely.
Over eight decades ago, America needed tradesmen capable of doing the impossible under fire. Today, our job sites need that same grit. When they finish building for their country, let’s make damn sure we give them a place to keep building at home.
WHO HIRES VETERAN CONSTRUCTION PROFESSIONALS?
Military construction experience is construction experience.
Seabees, RED HORSE, Prime BEEF, Army Engineers and other military construction professionals leave the service with experience in heavy equipment, utilities, electrical systems, structures, concrete, steel, project management, logistics, safety and construction under conditions most civilian contractors will never encounter.
Here are organizations worth knowing.
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT
NAVFAC — Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command
One of the most natural civilian transitions for former Seabees.
NAVFAC hires:
- Construction Managers
- Construction Engineers
- Engineering Technicians
- Safety & Occupational Health Professionals
- Quality Assurance Personnel
- Contract Specialists
- Public Works Personnel
- Utilities Professionals
- Facility Managers
- Engineers and Architects
- Skilled Trades
Careers: Search NAVFAC positions through USAJOBS.
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers — USACE
USACE operates one of the largest engineering and construction programs in the federal government.
Potential careers include:
- Construction Control Representatives
- Construction Managers
- Civil Engineers
- Quality Assurance
- Project Management
- Heavy Civil Infrastructure
- Emergency Management
- Environmental Construction
- Dam and Waterway Projects
Department of Veterans Affairs
The VA operates an enormous nationwide portfolio of hospitals, medical centers, clinics and other facilities requiring:
- Facilities Management
- Engineering
- Construction Management
- Safety
- Electrical
- HVAC
- Plumbing
- Maintenance
- Project Management
General Services Administration — GSA
GSA manages federal buildings and infrastructure throughout the country.
Military construction experience can translate into:
- Construction Management
- Facilities Management
- Project Management
- Building Operations
- Contract Administration
- Safety and Compliance
Department of Energy — DOE
Particularly relevant for veterans with experience involving:
- Nuclear facilities
- Industrial construction
- Electrical systems
- Heavy civil construction
- Safety
- Quality
- Emergency response
- Security-cleared environments
DOE work is also performed by enormous networks of prime contractors and subcontractors.
MAJOR CONSTRUCTION & ENGINEERING CONTRACTORS
Bechtel
This one belongs near the top of the list.
Bechtel specifically recruits military veterans and participates in programs including Helmets to Hardhats.
Veterans can transition into:
- Construction
- Field Engineering
- Project Management
- Supervision
- Heavy Civil
- Energy
- Nuclear
- Infrastructure
- Skilled Crafts
- Safety
Bechtel also operates a Military to Project program intended to help military personnel transition into construction careers.
Kiewit
Another excellent target for military construction professionals.
Kiewit actively recruits veterans and participates in:
- DoD SkillBridge
- Hiring Our Heroes
- Army PaYS
- Helmets to Hardhats
Potential careers include:
- Superintendent
- Field Engineer
- Construction Manager
- Equipment Operator
- Mechanic
- Electrician
- Safety Professional
- Quality
- Heavy Civil Construction
- Transportation
- Power
- Water/Wastewater
Fluor
Fluor specifically maintains recruiting resources for transitioning military members and veterans.
Military experience can translate into:
- Construction
- Crafts
- Operations & Maintenance
- Logistics
- Project Management
- Safety
- Engineering
- Government contracting
- Disaster response
- National security projects
Fluor even provides military occupation/title matching for job searches.
DEFENSE & GOVERNMENT CONTRACTORS
Amentum
A major employer supporting U.S. government and defense operations.
Particularly relevant backgrounds include:
- Facilities
- Construction
- Operations & Maintenance
- Heavy Equipment
- Logistics
- Electrical
- Mechanical
- Utilities
- Aviation support
- Engineering
- Safety
- Base operations
Amentum participates in military transition and SkillBridge opportunities.
V2X
This company deserves attention from transitioning military personnel.
More than 40% of its workforce is reportedly composed of veterans.
V2X supports military installations and operations involving:
- Base operations
- Facilities
- Logistics
- Infrastructure
- Maintenance
- Engineering
- Mission support
- Skilled trades
Its careers site also allows veterans to enter a military occupation code or military job title to identify corresponding civilian opportunities.
HII — Huntington Ingalls Industries
Especially relevant to Navy veterans.
HII reports employing more than 8,000 veterans and has major opportunities involving:
- Shipbuilding
- Welding
- Electrical
- Pipefitting
- Mechanical trades
- Engineering
- Construction-type trades
- Maintenance
- Project Management
- Quality
- Safety
- Logistics
For Seabees accustomed to industrial construction environments, HII is absolutely worth investigating.
OTHER CONTRACTORS WORTH WATCHING
Veteran construction professionals should also regularly investigate opportunities with major federal, infrastructure and defense contractors such as:
- Jacobs
- AECOM
- Parsons
- Burns & McDonnell
- Black & Veatch
- Turner Construction
- Gilbane
- DPR Construction
- Skanska USA
- Granite Construction
- Clark Construction
- PCL Construction
- Mortenson
- McCarthy Building Companies
- Whiting-Turner
- Suffolk Construction
- Hensel Phelps
Do not limit the search to positions containing the word “veteran.”
Search the actual civilian equivalent of the military occupation.
VETERAN-TO-CONSTRUCTION PROGRAMS
Helmets to Hardhats
One of the most important resources for transitioning service members interested in skilled construction trades.
It connects veterans with apprenticeship and career opportunities in union construction trades.
DoD SkillBridge
Potentially invaluable before leaving active duty.
SkillBridge allows eligible transitioning service members to participate in approved civilian employment training, internships and apprenticeships during their final period of military service.
Many large construction and defense companies participate.
Hiring Our Heroes
Connects veterans, transitioning service members and military spouses with employers.
Their fellowship programs can provide a bridge between military leadership/technical experience and civilian employment.
Army PaYS
The Partnership for Your Success program connects participating soldiers with employers committed to providing employment interviews after military service.
FOR THE SEABEE READING THIS
Do not undersell your military experience.
If you were an Equipment Operator, don’t write:
“Drove heavy equipment in the Navy.”
Translate it.
Heavy Equipment Operator — operated and maintained construction equipment supporting earthwork, grading, excavation, material handling and expeditionary infrastructure projects.
If you were a Construction Electrician, don’t simply write:
“Navy electrician.”
Translate the mission into the language employers understand:
Construction Electrician — installed, maintained and troubleshot electrical distribution, generation and facility systems supporting construction and mission-critical operations.
The same applies to:
BU — Builder
Carpentry • concrete • masonry • structural construction
CE — Construction Electrician
Power generation • electrical distribution • installation • troubleshooting
CM — Construction Mechanic
Diesel • heavy equipment • fleet maintenance • troubleshooting
EO — Equipment Operator
Dozers • graders • loaders • excavators • cranes • trucks • earthmoving
SW — Steelworker
Structural steel • welding • fabrication • reinforcing steel
UT — Utilitiesman
Plumbing • HVAC • water • wastewater • mechanical systems
EA — Engineering Aid
Surveying • soils • drafting • estimating • quality control • construction layout
Those aren’t merely military specialties.
Those are construction trades.
🇺🇸 A MESSAGE TO CONSTRUCTION EMPLOYERS
When U.S. NAVY — SEABEE, AIR FORCE — RED HORSE/PRIME BEEF, or ARMY ENGINEER appears on a résumé, don’t treat the military portion as an interesting footnote.
Ask:
What did you build?
What equipment did you operate?
How many people did you lead?
What projects did you manage?
What utilities did you install?
What did you do when equipment failed?
What safety responsibilities did you have?
What happened when the schedule went sideways?
Because you may not be interviewing someone who is trying to enter construction.
You may be interviewing someone who has already been doing it—
just in places where failure had consequences considerably greater than missing substantial completion.
CAN DO.
The Hidden Impalement Hazard: Why All-Thread Rods Need the Same Respect as Rebar
When most safety professionals and jobsite superintendents think about impalement protection, one standard immediately comes to mind: OSHA 1926.706(b).
We’ve all had it drilled into our heads—all protruding reinforced steel onto or into which employees could fall must be guarded to eliminate the hazard of impalement. We buy the mushroom caps, we install rebar trough covers, and we inspect them religiously.
But there’s a deadly blind spot on job sites every single day, particularly inside industrial warehouses, manufacturing facilities, and steel erection projects: exposed all-thread rods and anchor bolts sticking up from concrete floors.
A Slip, Trip, or Fall Doesn’t Care What the Metal Is Called
Look at the image below. It’s a standard piece of all-thread, sticking out of a concrete slab waiting for a pipe rack base, structural column, or heavy machinery to be bolted down.
To an untrained eye, it looks minor—just a thin piece of threaded rod. But gravity, velocity, and body weight don’t differentiate between rebar and all-thread.
If a worker slips, trips over gear, or stumbles, falling onto an uncapped 1/2-inch or 3/4-inch threaded rod results in the exact same catastrophic outcome: penetration and impalement.
The Hard Truth: Real Incidents, Real Consequences
During a recent Stop the Bleed course, we reviewed training statistics and case histories. In Tennessee alone, there have been over 7 documented impalement incidents involving workers falling onto uncapped all-thread rods inside warehouses.
These weren’t exotic, high-risk maneuvers. These were routine shifts where workers were setting up steel erection, installing base pipe racks, or walking through active work areas:
- The Cause: All-thread was left sticking up, unflagged, uncapped, and treated as “temporary hardware” rather than an impalement hazard.
- The Result: Severe penetrating trauma, massive arterial bleeding, and life-threatening emergency medical responses.
When a worker is impaled by all-thread, the sharp threads act like a serrated edge during entry, causing severe soft tissue laceration and massive hemorrhage. In these moments, training like Stop the Bleed becomes the only line of defense between life and death—training tourniquet application, wound packing, and pressure dressing before EMS arrives.
Closing the Safety Gap: Action Items for Safety Personnel & Superintendents
- Equal Classification: Treat protruding all-thread, anchor bolts, and exposed pipe with the exact same level of hazard severity as exposed rebar.
- Mandatory Capping & Guarding: Use approved impalement-rated caps, protective wooden troughs, or temporary sleeve covers over all exposed vertical all-thread until final installation/bolting occurs.
- High-Visibility Marking: If capping is temporarily paused during active work, mark the area with high-visibility flagging or barricades to prevent foot traffic through the zone.
- Site Inspection & Toolboxes: Run jobsite walks specifically looking for low-profile protrusion hazards. Train workers during toolbox talks to recognize that “small diameter” hardware carries massive impalement potential.
- Emergency Preparedness: Ensure your team is trained in Stop the Bleed. If an impalement occurs, NEVER remove the object on site—stabilize the victim, pack surrounding wounds, control the bleeding, and wait for first responders.
The Bottom Line
Rebar rules saved thousands of lives over the years. Now, it’s time to apply that same common-sense safety logic to all-thread. Don’t wait for an inspector to point it out, and don’t wait for an emergency call on your radio.
Cap it, cover it, and keep your crew safe.
Not Every Injury Heals When the Cast Comes Off
August Is Overdose Awareness Month
When most people hear the word overdose, they picture illegal drugs.
The truth is much more complicated.
Many overdoses involve prescription pain medications, illicit opioids, stimulants, alcohol, or a combination of substances. For some people, the journey begins after a workplace injury, surgery, or chronic medical condition. For others, it begins while trying to numb emotional pain that has gone untreated for far too long.
Nobody dreams of becoming dependent on medication.
Most people simply want the pain to stop.
As someone who has spent years working in construction safety, emergency response, and talking openly about mental health, I’ve learned that every injury has two sides.
There’s the injury everyone can see.
Then there’s the one they can’t.
The Reality: Hard Work, Chronic Pain, and High Risk
Construction & Trades Impact: According to CDC and NIOSH data, construction workers represent 15% to 17% of all drug overdose deaths among the U.S. working population, despite making up only about 8% of the workforce.
The Injury Connection: Construction workers are among the most likely to experience musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) and chronic pain. When a prescription runs out or pain remains unmanaged, the transition to improper medication use or illegal alternatives becomes a slippery slope.
The Isolation Factor: Studies show that active chronic pain significantly increases overdose risk—and when coupled with emotional isolation, the danger multiplies. Men, in particular, are conditioned to “suck it up” and keep moving, leading them to hide their pain until it becomes unbearable.
Isolation isn’t just a symptom—it’s a multiplier. When someone feels alone, alienated, or ashamed of their injury or dependence, they retreat into the shadows. And the shadows are where overdoses happen alone, with nobody around to call 911 or administer assistance.
We Also Need to Remember Our Veterans
Many veterans have found a second career in construction, manufacturing, utilities, transportation, and the skilled trades.
They bring leadership, discipline, experience, and an incredible work ethic to every jobsite.
Some also carry invisible wounds.
Years of military service may leave them living with chronic pain, damaged joints, hearing loss, traumatic brain injuries, PTSD, or other conditions that require long-term medical care. Many responsibly manage these conditions under the guidance of their healthcare providers.
As coworkers, supervisors, friends, and family members, our job isn’t to judge.
Our job is to notice when something changes.
If a veteran—or anyone else—begins withdrawing from coworkers, appears overwhelmed, seems unusually exhausted, struggles with pain, or no longer acts like themselves, don’t assume they’ll ask for help.
Many won’t.
A simple conversation could become the turning point they never expected.
Sometimes the strongest people are the least likely to admit they’re struggling.
That’s why we check on one another.
The CAP Strategy: Communication, Awareness, Preparation
We don’t need to be doctors to save a life. We just need to be observant, prepared, and willing to reach out.
1. Communication (Break the Silence)
Reach Out Directly: If a crew member, friend, or brother has been quiet, injured, or out of work, don’t wait for them to call you. Pick up the phone. A 2-minute call to check in can be the lifeline someone needs to know they aren’t forgotten.
Normalize Talking About Pain: Pain isn’t a character flaw; it’s a physical reality. Create an environment where guys can admit they’re hurting without fearing they’ll lose their job or respect.
2. Awareness (Recognize the Warning Signs)
Behavioral Shifts: Watch for sudden withdrawal, missed shifts, drastic mood changes, or extreme fatigue.
Physical Red Flags: Signs of opioid toxicity or overdose include slow/shallow breathing, unresponsiveness, cold or clammy skin, or blue/gray lips and fingernails.
3. Preparation (Carry the Tools)
Keep Naloxone (Narcan) Handheld: Naloxone is an over-the-counter nasal spray that temporarily reverses an opioid overdose. Keeping Narcan in your truck, tool box, or home isn’t an endorsement of drug use—it’s emergency first aid, no different than carrying a fire extinguisher or a tourniquet.
Have an Emergency Plan: Know who on your crew or in your family knows CPR, and never hesitate to call 911 immediately.
This Is Why One Man a Minute Matters
Every minute, somewhere in the world, a man dies by suicide.
Many who struggle with substance use also struggle with depression, chronic pain, PTSD, or profound loneliness.
Likewise, not everyone who experiences an overdose was trying to end their life.
What these situations often have in common is isolation.
People who believe no one notices.
People who believe asking for help makes them weak.
People who quietly convince themselves they’ll handle it tomorrow.
That’s why the mission of One Man a Minute has always been simple:
No one should suffer alone.
Connection saves lives.
Resources
If you or someone you know is struggling with pain management, mental health, or substance use, you do not have to carry it alone. These services are confidential, free, and available 24/7:
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Call or text 988 to connect with trained counselors for mental health support, crisis intervention, or substance use support.
SAMHSA’s National Helpline: Call 1-800-662-HELP (4357) for confidential treatment referral and information.
Never Use Alone: Call 1-800-484-3731. If someone is using alone, operators stay on the line and will dispatch emergency medical services only if the caller becomes unresponsive.
CDC / NIOSH Opioid Resources: Visit the CDC Opioid Awareness Page for employer toolkits, safety guidelines, and injury prevention strategies.
The Bottom Line: No one gets through life completely on their own. Whether you’re managing a chronic injury from years on the job or watching a friend drift away, step up. Check in on your people. One conversation can alter the course of a life.
Training Resources
Here is a breakdown of recognized training programs and online courses for personnel, first responders, and workplace safety teams to learn opioid overdose recognition and Narcan (naloxone) administration:
National Safety & First Aid Organizations
American Red Cross – First Aid for Opioid Overdose Online
Overview: A ~45–55 minute interactive online course covering how to recognize the signs of an overdose, perform basic life support care, and administer various naloxone devices (nasal sprays and auto-injectors).
Certification: Provides a 2-year Red Cross certificate of completion.
Best For: General staff, site safety personnel, and CPR/First Aid responders.
National Safety Council (NSC) – Opioid Overdose & First Aid Modules
Overview: Offers targeted workplace safety training modules and resources focused on handling substance use emergencies, identifying overdose risks, and integrating Narcan into emergency action plans.
Best For: Occupational safety managers, safety committee members, and designated workplace first aid teams.
Dedicated Overdose Prevention & Community Programs
Get Naloxone Now (GetNaloxoneNow.org)
Overview: Interactive online modules built specifically for bystanders, community members, and professional first responders (fire, EMS, law enforcement, and facility response teams).
Focus: Covers rapid identification of respiratory distress, step-by-step nasal spray administration, and post-administration care.
Certification: Offers digital Certificates of Completion upon post-test completion.
Overdose Lifeline – Layperson Naloxone (NARCAN) Training
Overview: Available as a self-paced online course or live instructor-led virtual session. Covers opioid basics, fentanyl awareness, safety precautions, and hands-on response steps.
Best For: Businesses, correctional/security staff, field crews, and designated safety leads.
Federal & Public Health Training Platforms
CDC TRAIN – Naloxone for Opioid Overdose 101
Overview: A free 15–20 minute foundational e-learning module developed in partnership with the CDC. Focuses on drug pharmacology, recognizing overdose signs, proper administration timing, and understanding Good Samaritan legal protections.
Best For: Public safety personnel, site security, and general employees looking for a quick, official primer.
SAMHSA & ATTC Network (Addiction Technology Transfer Center)
Overview: Free online courses and downloadable training toolkits tailored for organization staff. Emphasizes reducing stigma, administering reversal medications, and maintaining scene safety.
University & Regional Public Health Initiatives
Michigan OPEN – Take A.C.T.I.O.N. Naloxone Training
Overview: Free online course covering overdose protocols with downloadable certificates.
State Department of Health E-Learning Portals
Overview: Most state health departments host free 15-to-30-minute state-specific naloxone training portals (e.g., Indiana University’s Stop Overdose program or state-level EMS portals). These are tailored to regional Good Samaritan laws, standing medical orders, and local Narcan distribution programs.
Key Topics Covered in These Courses
Identification: Differentiating between heavy intoxication and a life-threatening overdose (e.g., pinpoint pupils, unresponsiveness, slow/stopped breathing, blue/grey fingernails or lips).
Immediate Action: Calling 911 immediately, positioning the victim in the recovery position, and giving rescue breaths if trained.
Administration: Peel, place, and press (nasal spray) or applying auto-injectors; knowing when to administer a second dose if there is no response after 2–3 minutes.
Post-Care: Handling potential acute withdrawal responses when the person wakes up and keeping them safe until emergency services arrive.
Stay safe. Stay bald. Stay honest.
— Allen Woffard
Diary of a Bald Man