Privacy Policy
Effective Date: July 1, 2024
At Virginia Health and Safety Institute ("we," "us," or "our"), located at 205 Van Buren St. Suite 120, Herndon, VA 20170, we are committed to protecting the privacy and confidentiality of your personal information. This Privacy Policy outlines how we collect, use, and protect your data when you visit our website, www.vahealthsafety.org (the "Site"), or enroll in our online hybrid and fully online CPR, First Aid, and other health and safety courses.
By using our Site and services, you agree to the practices described in this Privacy Policy. If you do not agree with this policy, please do not use our Site or services.
1. Information We Collect
We collect several types of information from and about users of our Site, including:
1.1. Personal Information You Provide
When you register for a course, contact us, or subscribe to our newsletters, we may collect the following types of personal information:
- Contact Information: Name, email address, phone number, and mailing address.
- Course Registration Information: Details related to course selection, participation, and certification status.
1.2. Payment Information
We do not directly collect, store, or process any payment information such as credit card or bank account details. All payments for our services are handled by third-party payment providers (e.g., PayPal, Stripe, etc.) with industry-standard security and encryption practices. These providers are responsible for handling and processing your payment information, and you should review their privacy policies for details on how they manage your financial data.
1.3. Automatically Collected Information
When you visit our Site, we may collect certain information automatically, including:
- IP Address: This helps us identify the region you are accessing the Site from.
- Browser and Device Information: Such as your browser type, operating system, and device information.
- Usage Data: Information about how you interact with the Site, including pages viewed, links clicked, and time spent on each page.
We use this information to improve the functionality and performance of our Site and to enhance your user experience.
2. How We Use Your Information
We may use the information we collect for various purposes, including but not limited to:
- Providing Services: To process course registrations, deliver course materials, and certify course completion.
- Customer Support: To respond to your inquiries, requests, or concerns.
- Communications: To send updates, important notices, or promotional materials related to our courses. You may opt out of these communications at any time by following the unsubscribe instructions in our emails.
- Site Improvements: To better understand how users interact with our Site and to improve content and functionality based on user experience.
3. How We Share Your Information
We respect your privacy and do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information to third parties for marketing purposes. However, we may share your information under the following circumstances:
- Service Providers: We may share your information with trusted third-party service providers who assist us in operating our Site, processing transactions, or delivering services to you. These service providers have access to personal information only to perform their functions and are obligated to maintain the confidentiality and security of your data.
- Legal Compliance: We may disclose your personal information if required to do so by law or in response to valid requests by public authorities (e.g., a court or government agency).
4. Payment Processing
As noted, we do not collect or store any payment information (such as credit card or bank details) directly on our Site. All payments are securely processed through third-party payment processors, such as PayPal, Stripe, or other trusted providers. These third-party services are responsible for collecting and processing your payment information in accordance with their own privacy policies and data security standards.
We strongly recommend that you review the privacy policies and terms of service of these payment processors before completing any transactions.
5. Data Security
We implement a variety of security measures to protect your personal information. These measures include physical, electronic, and procedural safeguards to help secure the information we collect. However, no method of transmission over the Internet, or method of electronic storage, is 100% secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security. While we strive to protect your personal information, you acknowledge that you provide your information at your own risk.
6. Your Choices and Rights
You have several choices regarding your personal information:
- Access and Update: You may contact us at any time to access, update, or correct your personal information.
- Opt-Out: If you no longer wish to receive promotional communications from us, you may opt out by following the unsubscribe instructions in those communications.
- Delete Your Information: You may request that we delete your personal information, subject to certain legal or contractual obligations. Contact us at [Insert Contact Email] to make this request.
7. Retention of Data
We retain personal information for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes for which it was collected and to comply with applicable legal, tax, or regulatory requirements. If you request that we delete your information, we will do so unless we are required to retain it for legal or regulatory purposes.
8. Cookies and Tracking Technologies
Our Site uses cookies and similar tracking technologies to enhance your browsing experience. Cookies are small text files that are stored on your device when you visit our Site. We use cookies to:
- Understand how users interact with our Site.
- Remember your preferences.
- Track the effectiveness of our advertising campaigns.
You can choose to disable cookies in your browser settings, though doing so may affect your ability to use certain features of the Site.
9. Third-Party Links
Our Site may contain links to other websites or services that are not operated or controlled by us. Please be aware that we are not responsible for the privacy practices of these external sites. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of any third-party sites before providing any personal information.
10. Children's Privacy
Our Site and services are not intended for children under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from anyone under 13 years of age. If we become aware that we have inadvertently collected personal information from a child under 13, we will take steps to delete that information as quickly as possible.
11. Changes to This Privacy Policy
We reserve the right to update or modify this Privacy Policy at any time. Any changes will be posted on this page with the updated effective date. We encourage you to periodically review this Privacy Policy to stay informed about how we protect your personal information.
12. Contact Us
If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy or the practices of our Site, please contact us at:
Virginia Health and Safety Institute
205 Van Buren St. Suite 120
Herndon, VA 20170