The School Safety Initiative is a community collaboration between the American Red Cross, local school districts, and community partners such as BP Cherry Point Refinery. The program is designed to improve school and community safety by making Red Cross services and programs available to schools throughout the Mt. Baker Chapter service area.

The School Safety Initiative program offerings (described below in greater detail) include:

1. First aid, CPR and AED training for students and teachers
2. Babysitter training and certification for young caregivers
3. Disaster Preparedness Brochures and Coloring/Activity Books
4. Masters of Disaster curriculum kits for teachers
5. International Humanitarian Law Curriculum Kit for Teachers
6. Youth Red Cross Club guidance manuals and service project opportunities
7. Health and Safety Equipment and Supplies: first aid/disaster preparedness kits and automated external defibrillators (AEDs)

1. First aid, CPR and AED training for students and teachers:
On any given day, as much as 20 percent of the United States population can be found in schools, making schools an ideal place to have prepared individuals ready to care for possible medical emergencies. Taking this training will help you be better prepared to save a life! To read a true story about the benefits of taking First Aid and CPR training click on this link.

This course prepares individuals to provide care for breathing emergencies, perform CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation), and use an automated external defibrillator (AED) for victims of sudden cardiac arrest. The course also covers controlling bleeding and care for muscle, bone and joint injuries, sudden illness, and burns. The course is seven hours and participants receive a course manual and a certification card upon successful completion.

If you are interested in organizing a class for students and/or teachers, you can either a) arrange to have a class held at the American Red Cross chapter, taught by a Red Cross certified trainer, b) become an authorized provider and hold trainings at a school or community building, or c) host a training at a school or community building and have a Red Cross certified trainer teach the class. For more information, please contact the Mt. Baker Chapter, Health & Safety Director Tom Burkland at (360) 733-3290 ext. 1022 or send an email to Tom Burkland.

2. Babysitter training and certification for young caregivers:
This course prepares young people for situations that may arise while caring for younger children. It covers the many responsibilities and skills required of a safe babysitter, supervision and play with children of various ages, basic child care, basic first aid, safety precautions, accident prevention, and critical emergency action skills. Upon completion of this course participants will be given a Babysitter’s Training Safety/First Aid Kit and an American Red Cross Babysitter’s Training certification card. In addition they will also receive their own Babysitter’s Training Handbook (160 pages). The recommended age group for this training is 11 to 15.

If you are interested in organizing a training for a group of students, you can either a) arrange to have a class held at the American Red Cross chapter, taught by a Red Cross certified trainer, b) become an authorized provider and hold trainings at a school or community building, or c) host a training at a school or community building and have a Red Cross certified trainer teach the class. For more information, please contact the Mt. Baker Chapter, Health & Safety Director Tom Burkland at (360) 733-3290 ext. 1022 or send an email to Tom Burkland.

3. Disaster Preparedness Information and Brochures, and Coloring/Activity Books:
In today’s ever-changing world it’s more important than ever that all of us be prepared for possible emergencies. Natural disasters and emergencies often strike suddenly and without warning. However, there are actions we can each take that can help prepare us for the unexpected. You never know when you might be needed, how many lives you might change, how many lives you might help save.

Here are some links to a range of disaster preparedness information and brochures that will assist you, your friends and family in becoming better prepared. Whether you live with friends, relatives, or in a communal living situation, making a disaster plan together is your best protection and your responsibility. Since we don’t know where we will be when disasters occur, it is important to have disaster plans and supplies ready not only at home, but at work, school and in other common locations (i.e., vehicles, boats, community buildings, etc.).

• Your Family Disaster Supplies Kit

• Your Family Disaster Plan

• Food and Water in an Emergency

• Disaster Supplies Barrel (putting together a larger disaster preparedness kit)

• Disaster Preparedness for People with Disabilities and Other Special Needs

• Disaster Preparedness Coloring Book (suggested ages 3-12)

• The Be Ready Coloring/Activity Book (suggested ages 3-9)

• Emergency Supplies for Schools

• Preparing Your Business for the Unthinkable

• Personal Workplace Disaster Supplies Kit

• Pets and Disaster: Get Prepared

*For more information try this link.

For more information, please contact the Mt. Baker Red Cross Emergency Services Director at (360) 733-3290 ext. 1019 or send an email to info@mtbredcross.org.

4. Masters of Disaster curriculum kits for teachers
Masters of Disaster (MOD) is an interactive, standards-based disaster safety curriculum that teaches elementary and middle/junior high school students the skills and knowledge they need to prepare for, recognize and recover from a disaster in their home, school or community.

MOD meets National Education Standards in science, math, language arts and social studies and was designed to integrate disaster preparedness information into existing lesson plans. This is not additional material for teachers to work into an already packed school day. Rather, the goal of the Masters of Disaster curriculum, which is aligned with the National Education Standards, is to supplement the lessons teachers are already teaching.

The three different kits include a Kindergaden-2nd grade, 3rd-5th grade and 6th-8th grade kit. Each MOD kit includes a: (a) Lesson Plans book (b) Activities book (c) MOD videotape (d) poster with disaster-related questions (e) stickers- for K-5 only (f) MOD completion certificates (g) form to order a free CD-ROM that compliments lesson plans and (h) an evaluation form. The kit is packages in a colorful file box with a handle which makes it easy to transport and share with other teachers and classrooms.

To learn more about Masters of Disaster you may want to visit Masters of Disaster. If you have questions, would like to set up an appointment to meet with a Red Cross representative to look through a Masters of Disaster kit or if you are interested in ordering some kits please call Stacy Rice at (360) 733-3290 ext. 1019 or send an e-mail.

5. International Humanitarian Law Curriculum Kit for Teachers
Most victims of war today neither wear a uniform nor carry a gun. Tragically they are often civilians, and among them, often the most vulnerable, including women, children and the elderly. In an imperfect world, international humanitarian law (IHL) serves as the internationally agreed upon standard of humane treatment and response to non-combatants alike during armed conflict.

International Humanitarian Law (IHL) encompasses both humanitarian principles and international treaties that seek to save lives and alleviate suffering of combatants and noncombatants during armed conflict. Its principal legal documents are the Geneva Conventions of 1949, four treaties signed by almost every nation in the world. The Conventions define fundamental rights for combatants removed from the fighting due to injury, illness, or capture, and for civilians. The 1977 Additional Protocols, which supplement the Geneva Conventions, further expand those rights.

The American Red Cross has a unique mandate to educate the U.S. public about the guiding principles and international humanitarian law (IHL) framework for conduct in warfare. The American Red Cross now offers educators materials to educate students about International Humanitarian Law principles.

Exploring Humanitarian Law (EHL) is a curriculum kit created for 9th through 12th grade teachers and best fits into social studies classrooms. The aim of the program is to expose learners to issues of humanitarian law and principles of respect for life and human dignity. The EHL program aims to provide educators with learning materials and strategies that may reinforce and enrich existing educational programs. The materials are built on historical and contemporary situations. Worldwide implementation began in 2002 with over 90 countries participating.

The EHL program comes with an implementation and methodology guide, guidelines for experimentation and evaluation, guidelines for inserting EHL into the curriculum, education modules for young people, a glossary and student and teacher videos.

To learn more about Exploring Humanitarian Law click on this link. If you have questions, would like to set up an appointment to meet with a Red Cross representative to look through an Exploring Humanitarian Law kit or if you are interested in ordering some kits please call (360) 733-3290 ext. 1019 or send us an e-mail.

Listed below are some links to additional International Humanitarian Law information and curriculum:
• International Humanitarian Law and the Geneva Conventions Study Guide
• Basic Rules of International Humanitarian Law
• Exploring Humanitarian Law Fact Sheet
• Introduction to International Humanitarian Law
• International Humanitarian Law section on the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) website
• Geneva Conventions: the Core of International Humanitarian Law

6. Youth Red Cross Club guidance manuals and service project opportunities
Red Cross clubs are a team effort, where Red Cross chapters and youth work together to make their communities and the world a better place and where young people develop leadership skills. A Red Cross club is sponsored by an advisor, usually a teacher from your school or a leader in your community. If you do not have a club in your area, you will need to recruit an advisor or you yourself may be interested in becoming a club advisor. The different types of clubs are listed below.

• Red Cross School Clubs
Red Cross school clubs are school-based service groups that help the Red Cross fulfill its humanitarian mission. Working closely with the local Red Cross chapter, club members participate in Red Cross service projects that impact their community and the world. Student members will discover many new opportunities for self-development and be encouraged to choose activities that will most effectively fulfill the community’s greatest needs.
• Red Cross Service/Project Clubs
A service or project club operates within another club and uses a title other than “Red Cross Club.” Members complete service projects for the Red Cross and for other service organizations.
• Clubs Not Affiliated with Schools
Many Red Cross clubs are sponsored by local Red Cross chapters. Like school clubs, members of these clubs develop leadership skills and participate in Red Cross service projects that impact their community and the world.

If you are interested in learning more about starting a Red Cross Club and would like to set up an appointment to meet with a Red Cross representative to learn more please call (360) 733-3290 ext. 1015 or send us an e-mail.

If you are not familiar with the Red Cross and would like to attend a volunteer orientation to find out more please call the Mt. Baker Red Cross Volunteer Services Director at (360) 733-3290 ext. 1015. Attending a volunteer orientation - typically a two hour class held in the evening - is a requirement for becoming a Red Cross Club Advisor.

7. Health and Safety Equipment and Supplies
To peruse some Red Cross equipment and supplies, check out our National Red Cross online store. To find out about more Red Cross equipment and supplies please contact us at (360) 733-3290 ext. 1029 or send us an e-mail. You are also welcome to stop by and look at what we have for sale Monday through Thursday from 9am to 5pm.

If your school is interested in purchasing automated external defibrillators (AEDs) please contact the Mt. Baker Red Cross Health & Safety Director Tom Burkland at (360) 733-3290 ext. 1022 or send an e-mail to Tom Burkland.

If you have questions or want to become a School Safety Initiative volunteer please send us an e-mail.

The Mount Baker School District was the Mt. Baker Chapter's pilot partner in developing the School Safety Initiative. Click here to visit the Mount Baker School District School Safety Initiative website.

The School Safety Initiative is made possible through the generous support of the BP Cherry Point Refinery.