MONTPELIER, Vt. (WCAX) – The Associated General Contractors of Vermont, the state’s leading construction industry association, is putting a new emphasis on first aid training for its members.

Tamara McLaughlin has her students hard at work trying to revive a training mannequin with chest compressions.

First aid is one of the many courses offered through the Associated General Contractors of Vermont. In just the first five months of 2025 alone, the organization has had trainings for over 2,500 Vermonters — an increase of 18 percent over last year, and officials say the demand is booming. “We sell out of classes every week,” said the AGCVT’s Richard Wobby Jr.

They also offer a wide range of other classroom and hands-on training, including wiring, fuel, blueprint reading, flagger training, and more.

“We, as tradespeople, are not great book learners. It’s hands! I gotta feel it, I gotta look at it, and I gotta see it, and our people accelerate at that,” Wobby said. “Your December to May is made up of either compliance and skills. Your May through October is probably your licensing requirements, your regulatory requirements.”

And that’s where first aid fits in. Although it may seem routine, in-person training like this is crucial in the workplace.

“Over the years, I’ve seen a lot of accidents happen, and this type of training is really just super good to know,” said Larry Dickson with K. Bellavance Landworks.

In addition to its current catalog, AGCVT is looking to expand into simulators for heavy equipment in the coming months.

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