Companies with round-the-clock operations in seven U.S. cities are being offered a free alertness and fatigue management presentation by an internationally recognized authority on the topic.

The in-house presentations by Dr. Mark R. Rosekind, president and chief scientist of Alertness Solutions, are part of the Alertness Matters program that also includes:

• A self-assessment quiz -- a simple, five-item set of questions that individuals can use to determine how they are personally affected by these alertness issues
• An Alertness Matters simulator -- a 3-D interactive experience that dramatically depicts the risks and consequences of not being alert
• A website -- an online source for information, the self-assessment quiz, and links to resources to address various individual interests
• A toll-free number -- an additional channel for information referrals and other resource materials

Alertness Matters is sponsored by the biopharmaceutical company Cephalon, but the presentation and the supporting materials provided are not branded.

The program, intended as an introduction to alertness and shift work issues within an organization, was first piloted last year in Chicago. Participating companies and organizations included United Airlines, Greyhound, Lufthansa, Chicago Tribune, Dove, the National Safety Council, and several hospitals and police, fire, and EMS departments.

This year the program is being offered in the following cities on the dates indicated:

• Charlotte, May 22 - 24
• Buffalo, June 5 - 9
• Detroit, June 26 - 27
• Pittsburgh, July 10 - 12
• Memphis, July 24 - 28
• Denver, August 7 - 11
• Las Vegas, September 11 - 14