Earlier this year, Curtis South was talking to a colleague at his office when he collapsed.

The vice president of finance at Thermal Ceramics Inc. was experiencing sudden cardiac death -- an abrupt loss of heart function -- and every moment was critical.

Co-worker Travis Campbell was in the parking lot preparing to leave. He ran back in after he saw an accountant race to the security booth for assistance. Mr. Campbell and his boss, Bruce Johnson, quickly administered CPR to Mr. South and used an automated external defibrillator, or AED, to revive him.

Less than a month later, Mr. South was back at work. If five minutes had passed without help, he would have died.

"It's uncommon to survive," Mr. South said. "I'm very lucky."

Mr. Campbell said he learned the lifesaving techniques through a workplace safety training program offered by American Red Cross of Augusta, which this week is trying to publicize National CPR/AED Awareness Week.

Its director of public relations, Scotty McDuffy, said the organization offers classes to about 80 companies with certified instructors in first aid, CPR, AED and blood-borne pathogens.

He said the training can be "the difference between life and death."

"You will spend more waking hours at your place of employment than you actually do at home," he said. "It's always best to be prepared for whatever situation there may be."

Each year, 6,000 people die from workplace injuries, and almost 12 injuries occur in a workplace each minute, Mr. McDuffy said.

He said AEDs, which cost about $1,600, are worth the investment.

Thermal Ceramics, which manufactures insulation products used in high heat, offers mandatory Occupational Safety and Health Administration training and other training opportunities.

"The training is one of the reasons that we were able to react so quickly," company safety manager Richard Dorman said. "Training is a proactive measure -- if you can train people in hazard recognition and safe work practices, you'll have a much safer plant."

Earl Lett, a safety engineer at Solvay Advanced Polymers, said his company is considered a Voluntary Protection Program Star Site by OSHA standards, meaning it "goes above and beyond what is required" for safety training.

"We want to ensure that we send people home the same way the came in," Mr. Lett said.

Solvay, which makes heat-resistant plastics, has 75 employees who receive annual Red Cross training, as well as OSHA training and other safety classes.

The company has an in-house health and safety department, an emergency response team and a fire brigade and keeps six AEDs on hand.

Sharon Fry, Red Cross marketing and sales coordinator, said Taylor Auto Group, which recently completed safety training, has also put the skills to use.

A group of employees was out for lunch when one began to choke. One of the employees administered the Heimlich maneuver and saved the person's life.