m16540513 high school student guide

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STUDENTGUIDE

A Student Guide to Startinga Red Cross School Club

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TABLEOF

CONTENTS

1Save a Life: A Student Guide to Starting a Red Cross School Club

INTRODUCTION

HOW MUCH DO YOU KNOW ABOUT THE AMERICAN RED CROSS?

HOW CAN YOU SAVE A LIFE?

WHAT IS A RED CROSS SCHOOL CLUB?

WHY START A RED CROSS CLUB AT SCHOOL?

WHAT MAKES A RED CROSS CLUB SPECIAL?

GETTING A RED CROSS CLUB STARTED

STANDARDS FOR MEMBERSHIP

SETTING GOALS

CLUB ACTIVITIES

CHOOSING THE RIGHT ACTIVITIES FOR YOUR CLUB

SAMPLE ACTIVITY CALENDAR

MAKING PROJECTS HAPPEN

TEN EASY STEPS FOR TWO SERVICE PROJECTS

LEARNING LIFESAVING SKILLS

TELLING THE WORLD HOW MUCH YOU CARE

EVALUATING YOUR RED CROSS CLUB

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INTRODUCTION

AMERICAN RED CROSS YOUTH VISION STATEMENT

The American Red Cross will provide the premier

environment for youth and young adults to learn,

practice and exemplify humanitarian values.

Some of us dream of making a difference in the lives of those around us, ourcommunities and even in the world. It doesnt really matter what age we are.We all have something unique to offer.

This guide is for all high school students who are committed to making their schools, their

communities and the world a better place. Its intended for you if youre willing to help a

friend or stranger in trouble. Its for you if you believe you can help improve and save

lives.

Its for you because the American Red Cross believes that you can help. Thats why your

local Red Cross field unit wants to help you set up a Red Cross club at your school. We

want to offer you the opportunity to join with others in organizing activities both inside

and outside of your school that help save lives.

You will propose and plan the clubs activities according to your ideas about how to improve

your school and community. Well provide the guidance and resources you need to put

those ideas to work.

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We can teach you how to organize, carry out and publicize events and programs, every-

thing you need to turn local projects into community and maybe even national success

stories. Well help you become decision makers and articulate leaders. In our courses,

taught by certified instructors, you will be able to learn CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscita-

tion), first aid and lifeguarding, or become certified to teach some of these classes your-

self (some age restrictions apply). Through us, you can organize blood drives, donate

blood (once you are seventeen), collect and send school supplies and other needed items

to children in countries affected by disaster and war and learn how to talk to a friend

about the dangers of HIV/AIDS.

Starting a club will help you accomplish all of these things. So talk to a teacher, guidance

counselor or principal about starting a Red Cross club in your school and call your local

American Red Cross for additional direction.


How Much Do You Know about theAmerican Red Cross?Did you know?

In the past year alone, the American Red Cross Provided almost half the nations blood supply.

Trained more than 11 million people in vital lifesaving skills.

Provided direct health services to 2 million people.

Assisted victims of natural and human-made disasters and victims of armedconflict around the world.

Helped an estimated 615,000 military families worldwide.

Supported Red Cross clubs with thousands of members in elementary, middleand high schools and on college campuses throughout the nation.

Our MissionThe American Red Cross is a humanitarian organization led by volunteers that providesrelief to victims of disasters and helps people prevent, prepare for and respond to emergen-cies. It does this through services guided by its congressional charter and the FundamentalPrinciples of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. These principles arehumanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity and universality.

Our ServicesToday, the American Red Cross is the largest humanitarian organization in the UnitedStates. Its more than 1.2 million volunteers and more than 32,000 paid staff provide anarray of domestic and international emergency related services.

The American Red Cross national headquarters is located in Washington, D.C., butthe organization is prepared to join with people throughout the nation at the local andnational level so that, Together, we can save a life. For more information about theAmerican Red Cross, please contact your local unit or visit www.redcross.org.

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How Can YouSave a Life?

There are many ways to save someones life. Administering first aid

HIV/AIDS peer counseling

CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation)

Donating blood

Teaching someone to read

Saving someone from drowning

Providing needed supplies to victims of a disaster

Collecting funds to assist the most vulnerable overseas

Preventing fires

Volunteers like you reach out and improve the lives of friends and neighbors every day. Thebetter trained they are, the more they can do and the more lives will be saved. That is whythe American Red Cross has committed its resources to establishing Red Cross clubs inevery high school in America. You may be able to do most, if not all, of the activities above.But it would be hard to try to do them by yourself.

What Is aRed Cross School Club?

Today, we took a Babysitter Training course.

We organized a blood drive at school.

American Red Cross school clubs are school-based service groups that help the Red Crossfulfill its humanitarian mission. Working closely with the local Red Cross unit, clubmembers participate in Red Cross service projects that impact their community and theworld. Student members will discover many new opportunities for self-development and beencouraged to choose activities that will most effectively fulfill the communitys greatest needs.

Red Cross school clubs are a team effort, where Red Cross units, schools and students allwork together to make their communities and the world a better place and where youngpeople develop leadership skills.


A Red Cross club is sponsored by a mentor, usually a teacher or advisor from your school.You may want to approach someone you think is the right person for the task and see if heor she will help you get started.

Why Start aRed Cross Club at School?I read to a child who had lost his home in a fire.

We sent a box of school supplies to Africa.

People are most comfortable in places where they spend a lot of time, where they can bethemselves, pick up a can of soda, find a cozy corner and unwind from a long day.

One of these kinds of places can be your school. Its right there, where you are. It requiresno extra hassle, no need for a car to get you there.

At school, you are used to being original and stretching your capabilities, learning andgrowing. Its where your friends are. And its a great place from which to reach across thebarriers of generations, class, illness, homelessness and catastrophe to help others andmake new friends. Its a great place to set up a Red Cross club.

From a practical point of view, when the club is located in your school, you can collaboratewith other clubs already at your school. Its also likely you can get a teacher or guidancecounselor who knows you and your school and community to be the clubs sponsor. Makesure you ask the kind of person who believes that volunteerism is part of education, andsomeone who understands that having a good time is an integral part of a service project.

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INCENTIVES

WHY VOLUNTEER?

Students told us that what they like most about volunteering is

1. Having fun. 5. Gaining experience.

2. Learning new skills. 6. Meeting people with similar interests.

3. Choosing the projects. 7. Contributing to their local community.

4. Feeling they are needed. 8. Learning to be a leader.

What Makes a Red Cross ClubSpecial?

Its FUNIn a Red Cross school club, youll get to help those most in need in the community whilesurrounded by your friends. After youve completed a major activity, you can all celebratetogetheryou, your friends, your sponsor and others from the local Red Cross unit.

You Learn New SkillsWhether its learning to be a lifeguard, becoming a trained instructor in CPR and first aidor becoming an HIV/AIDS peer educator, theres lots of ways that the American Red Crosscan teach you to save a life in your community every day. Take these courses yourselforbetter yet, become involved in teaching them.

You Receive Peer RecognitionWhen your classmates see the great things youre doingteaching children how to read,serving as a lifeguard, being the first to volunteer to be a blood donor when you turn 17theyll want to be a part of it.

It Is RewardingSometimes you will receive more than an informal thank you from your sponsor. Some-times youll receive certificates or plaques from the local Red Cross unit, or be given a RedCross Service Pin. These may be given out during club meetings or at a special assembly foryour grade or the school.

Youll Feel Proud of What You AccomplishThrough your Red Cross school club, youll help those who need itsometimes the veryold and the very young. The elderly may tell you stories about their families and you mayteach them how to surf the Web. Young children may sing their favorite songs for you andyou may read them stories. Whatever you do, youll be making a difference.

It Looks Good on College ApplicationsColleges dont just want students with high grades. They are looking for leaders, decisionmakers, young people with heart. Your involvement in the Red Cross club can show you areall of these. Be sure you ask your club sponsor for a recommendation letter to include inyour college application. A record of your achievements should be on file. Good luck!


Getting aRed Cross Club

StartedFirst, find out all you can from your local unit of the American Red Cross. Explain that youare interested in establishing a Red Cross club in your school. Ask them to send youinformation about the roles teens can fill and the kinds of activities that young people do.You can also log on to the Red Cross public Web site at www.redcross.org to gather infor-mation.

To get your club going, you will need to obtain permission from your school. They willwant to know that you have the support of the local Red Cross unit, a small group ofseveral interested students and a teacher or guidance counselor with whom you have sharedyour plans who is willing to serve as club sponsor. Your Red Cross unit or potential clubsponsor can set up an appointment to see the principal and present the benefits of estab-lishing a Red Cross school club. Try to attend this presentation and lend your support. Ifyour presentation goes well, you will be given permission to form your club.

Once you get permission, youre ready to go.

We suggest that you announce your first meeting on school fliers and on the school Website. The text could read, HAVE YOU SAVED A LIFE TODAY? Join the new Red Crossclub and make a real difference! Together, we can save a life. Remember to include themeetings date, time and place and a contact persons phone number.

Inform your local Red Cross unit of your kick off meeting date and they can arrange for anorientation speaker. Determine whether you or another founding student member willserve as interim president (until formal elections can be held). If possible, meet with yourclub sponsor and local Red Cross unit representative to map out the orientation and discussa vision statement for the club.

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The selected interim president should run the orientation meeting. The meetings primarygoals should be to inform prospective members about the American Red Cross and gener-ate enthusiasm. The president may want to begin by explaining the many reasons why heor she personally wanted to start a Red Cross club and then introduce the club sponsor andlocal Red Cross representative. The representative should provide an overview of theAmerican Red Cross and how club members can contribute. You and your sponsor can thendiscuss what it means to be a Red Cross school club, how to set up service projects and howto report activities. Be sure to highlight club benefits, such as the humanitarian nature ofyour projects, making friends while giving back to the community and the implicationsof your service for college applications. Make sure theres plenty of time for questions,socializing and snacks.

Standards forMembership

Once the club is begun, you may want to work with your club sponsor to set standards forclub operation and membership. A Red Cross Volunteer Application and Code of Conductform must be filled out before you can officially become a member of the organization. Yourclub sponsor can help you get those.

SOME QUESTIONS YOU MAY WANT TO CONSIDER: Academic RequirementsMust students pass all their academic subjects in order tobe considered for club membership?

Attendance RequirementsWhat is the minimum number of meetings and projectsclub members must participate in to remain in good standing?

BehaviorShould club members be told that they are responsible for being positiverole models who will lose their membership if they are suspended from school?

Club SizeWhat is the preferred minimum/maximum size of the club?

LeadershipHow and when will elections be held for club leadership? What positions?

MeetingsWhere and when should regular meetings be held? Should meetings takeplace during lunch or after regular school hours?

Service ActivitiesWhat activities will your club focus on for the current school year?


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SettingGoals

Its important to work with your club sponsor early in the year to set attainable goals for theclub. Once you understand the service needs of the local unit, you will probably want towrite a vision statement that shows how the club will meet those needs based on its capa-bilities. For example, it may look something like

The Red Cross club in _________ High School is committed to:

Improving the lives of fellow students and others who live in the community.

Providing educational programs for our classmates that will help them develop lifesavingskills.

Assisting the Red Cross in saving the lives of our neighbors during times of disaster.

Respecting the elderly and helping them remain self-sufficient and independent withinthe community.

Encouraging all interested students to become members, regardless of sex, race ornational origin.

Upholding the principles that educate, encourage and empower us to be rolemodels and set us on a path to be current and future leaders.

ClubActivities

As a student, you can easily learn about the needs of your school and community. You mayalready be aware of unmet needs. The activities you plan should address those needs andimprove the quality of life in your school and in your community. There are all kinds ofactivities the members of your Red Cross school club can participate in and have a goodtime while doing so. You can choose from some of the ideas listed below, or create your ownprojects. It is a good idea to involve your sponsor and local Red Cross unit in program selec-tion and direction.

Service to School and Students Providing peer education

Establishing a reading club for elementary students

Developing a newsletter

Creating an anti-drug initiative

Service to Community Organizing blood drives

Providing entertainment for nursing homes

Writing letters for the elderly

Cleaning up a local park

Packing food boxes for the homebound

Service through Pre-Established Red Cross Programs Assembling comfort kits and cleanup kits for those affected by disaster

Staffing Red Cross information booths at community events

Staffing first aid stations

Reading to a child in a disaster shelter

Creating an educational display about Red Cross services for a hospitalor library bulletin board

Teaching safety courses, such as First Aid for Children Today (FACT),to younger students

Establishing a pen pal relationship with another Red Cross unit overseas

Service to the World Raising funds for those affected by local disaster

Collecting and distributing toys to disaster victims during the holidays

Sending greeting cards to people in the armed forces stationed overseas

Holding a banquet to raise awareness of world hunger and raise fundsto support Red Cross initiatives that address it

Prevention Projects Leading Fire Prevention Week activities

Sponsoring Learn-to-Swim MonthPrevent Drowning in your school

Facilitating a HIV/AIDS education program


Choosing the Right Activitiesfor Your Club

The best way to select your clubs activities is to get together and brainstorm, discuss, listenand select. Together, you will find the perfect programs to plan and carry out for the bene-fit of your classmates and your community. Your Red Cross club will be what you make itas a team.

To help you decide on what kind of service projects you want to focus on, you might wantto do a quick self-evaluation.

Do you want to help your local Red Cross prepare for and respondto local disasters? Yes No

Do you to want to lead fundraising projects? Yes No

Do you want to educate your peers about HIV/AIDS? Yes No

Do you want to help the elderly in your community? Yes No

Do you want to mentor younger children? Yes No

Do you want to teach first aid skills to your peers or younger children? Yes No

Do you want to collect and distribute school materials for children living overseas in areas affected by war or disaster? Yes No

Do you want to educate people about International Humanitarian Law? Yes No

Do you want to organize a Red Cross Babysitters Training course for pre-teens? Yes No

Do you want to teach water safety skills to children? Yes No

Do you want to be a lifeguard? Yes No

Do you want to teach community disaster classes? Yes No

Do you want to reach out to persons with disabilities? Yes No

Do you want to organize and lead a blood drive? Yes No

Do you want to give blood when you are 17 or

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older? Yes No

Do you want to create a Web site for your club? Yes No

Do you want to write stories about club activities for your Web site or newsletter? Yes No

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SampleActivity Calendar

Here is a sample calendar of activities for your school year. Keep in mind that the activitiesyou select for your club should address needs and improve the quality of life in your schooland in your community.

Member recruitment Orientation to the Red Cross club Club leadership election Plan goals for the school year and identify service projects for the semester Participate in Disaster Services training

Make a Difference Day (fourth Saturday of October)collect school materials fromstudents, teachers, school staff and the community to fill School Chests for children and teens in countries affected by disaster or war Fire Prevention Month projectcreate disaster education doorknob hangers for community distribution

Participate in First Aid/CPR and Babysitters Training courses Hold a banquet to raise awareness of and funds to support the international hunger relief work of the Red Cross Create and fill holiday stockings for nursing home residents

Sponsor a holiday blood drive World AIDS Day (December 1st) project Report on first semester activities to your principal and local American Red Cross unit

Participate in Red Cross Leadership Development Training Sign On, Live On campaign for increasing tissue donation awareness among 10th graders

Identify service projects for the semester

Comfort Kit project Teach First Aid for Children Today (F.A.C.T.) at a local elementary school

March is Red Cross Monthparticipate in a Red Cross visibility campaign Staff Red Cross booth at mall Fundraising project to benefit Red Cross DisasterRelief Fund Select club members to attend American Red Cross convention

National Youth Service Day (kicks off National Volunteer Week) project Club officer nominations and elections for next year

World Red Cross Day (May 8th) event Report on second semester activities to yourprincipal and local American Red Cross unit Hold an end-of-year recognition bash

JANUARY

DECEMBER

NOVEMBER

OCTOBER

SEPTEMBER

FEBRUARY

MARCH

APRIL

MAY

Do you want to take an American Red Cross training course in...

CPR/First Aid? Yes No

Disaster Services Courses? Yes No

International Services Courses? Yes No

Babysitters Training? Yes No

GuardStart or Lifeguard Training? Yes No

HIV/AIDS Training Courses? Yes No

Other? Yes No

Once you and your peers assess your answers, you can begin to determine the kind of activities youd like to include in a calendar of club events for the semester. The follow-ing page contains a sample calendar. Ideally, calendars should remain flexible and open tochanges should emergency situations occur. It is also important to prioritize your projectsfeedback based on community needs, and the clubs abilities to complete a project.


Making ProjectsHappen

So how much can I really contribute to my Red Cross club?You can do almost anything for anybody. Thats why the American Red Cross wants you onits team. Heres a hypothetical scenario about how you can help when it matters most

Monday, 7 A.M.NEWS FLASH. LEVEES ALONG THE MISSISSIPPI DONTHOLD. FLOODING REACHES INTO MAIN STREET IN ZANESVILLE. THEMAYOR DECLARES AN EMERGENCY.

One of the officers of your club sees this on television Monday morning. She knows thateveryone is needed during and in the aftermath of a flood. Families whose houses are flooded will need shelter. Zanesville itself will have to be cleaned up. At school, she talks tothe Red Cross club sponsor and gets approval to put a call on the telephone tree that auto-matically forwards calls to all the members of the club leaving the following message

Trouble in Zanesville. Flooding washes out homes and businesses. Red Cross club meetingcalled for Monday, 7:30 A.M., at the school, room 306. All students who want to help are welcome.

The same message is put on the school Web site.

By the next morning, there are 38 students in school at 7:30 A.M. The sponsor is there, too.Within a half-hour, committees are organized and responsibilities assigned for:

Contacting the Red Cross unit to determine how they can help. This committee willcontinue to monitor the flooding.

Coordinating a fundraising effort.

Seeing if chapters need help staffing shelters and providing mass care. (To participate, members must have received Disaster Services Training.)

Seeing if chapters need help distributing cleanup kits. (To participate, members must have received Disaster Services Training.)

The committees jump into action. The principal arrives to thank the club members andpledge school support for the clubs efforts. Many children who live in Zanesville attend thisschool and are impacted by the flooding.

Within a few days, posters will go up all over the school asking for help coordinating reliefactivities and for financial donations.

Sound right for your club?

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Ten Easy Stepsfor Two Service Projects

SPONSOR A COMMUNITY BLOOD DRIVEObjective: Collect 100 units of blood in your school.

1. Pick a preferred date and two alternatives. (Note: You will need at least a month togather materials and advertise your drive to recruit donors.)

2. Contact your local Red Cross unit for permission. (Note: The Red Cross does notcollect blood in all areas of the country.) If permission is granted, you will be set upwith your states Blood Services office or a designated hospital that can come to theschool and collect the blood.

3. Start generating publicity. Your local Red Cross can supply you with all theadvertising materials you need, including posters, fliers and appointment cards.

4. One month before the drive, start setting up blood donor appointments at 15-minute intervals. A drive lasts about five hours. Donors must be at least 17 yearsold and must have permission from a parent or legal guardian if they are not 18.

5. Get local food merchants to donate snacks and drinks for the blood donors.

6. One week before the drive, call potential donors to confirm appointments.

7. The day of the drive, club members who cannot give blood can help by registering donors.

8. After each blood donation, serve snacks and drinks and provide escorts back to class for donors.

9. After the drive, post an Honor Roll listing the names of students, teachers and school staff who donated blood.

10. Send thank you notes to all blood donors, even those who were rejected, as well as toall other volunteers for the drive.

SPONSOR A FOOD AND HUNGER PROJECTObjective: To solicit donated items, assemble and decorate Thanksgiving baskets anddistribute them to families in need

1. With your sponsor, contact your local Red Cross unit to discuss and organize project idea.

2. With guidance of your sponsor, formulate directions for soliciting items and decorating baskets.

3. Pick a preferred delivery date and two alternatives.


4. Coordinate with your local church or outreach group to identify families within your community who may appreciate a basket donation.

5. Solicit donations to fill basketscanned goods, packaged foods that do not requirerefrigerationand sturdy boxes to serve as baskets and art supplies for decoration.

6. Determine club meeting date when baskets will be put together, and give membersplenty of advance notice.

7. Assemble and decorate Thanksgiving baskets. Make sure there are plenty of snacksand music. Make this a fun event for club members.

8. Coordinate with local unit to deliver baskets to members of the community.

9. Send thank you notes to individuals who donated items for the baskets.

10. Discuss the experience of putting together and distributing the baskets with your fellow club members. How did it work out? How did it make you feel? Did youlearn anything? What was the best thing that you learned from this project?

Learning Lifesaving SkillsThe American Red Cross offers many kinds of skills in its training courses that are intended to help save lives. Work with your sponsor to have these courses taught in schoolor at your local Red Cross. Or, become a trained instructor yourself. Not all classes may beoffered in all areas, and some have age requirements or fees, so contact your local Red Crosswith your sponsor to find out more.

Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) Courses Adult CPRLearn how to deal with heart attacks, choking and respiratory emergencies in adults.

Infant and Child Care CPRLearn to overcome fear and act in emergency situations,and to recognize and care for life-threatening respiratory or cardiac emergencies ininfants and children.

Community CPRLearn rescue breathing, choking rescue techniques and CPR forhelping infants, children and adults.

First AidLearn to properly respond to accidental injury or sudden illness.

Water Safety Courses Swimming and Aquatics SafetyProvides instruction in swimming techniques andwater safety skills for all levels of swimmers. Learn these skills yourself, or become aninstructor to teach others.

Lifeguard Training (age 15 or older)Learn how to handle water emergencies, watersearch-and-rescue and the equipment used in maintaining a safer swimming and lifesaving environment.

HIV/AIDS Education

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Learn how to educate your peers regarding the dangers of HIV/AIDS and the benefits ofprevention. Similar programs are being developed for violence prevention and drug education.

BabysittingLearn how to get a babysitting job and feed and care for a baby when he or she frets, getsill or an emergency develops.

Preparation for ParenthoodPrepare for every aspect of parenthood, from what to expect before, during and after delivery to new family roles and how to take care of a baby.

The Name of the Game Is CaringA course in party planning and storytellingboth are important skills in planning successful activities for small children, the elderly and everyone in between.

Disaster Services CoursesLearn how to help when disasters such as floods, hurricanes, tornadoes and earthquakes occur.

Telling the WorldHow Much You Care

We both work as lifeguards after school.

I volunteer as an interpreter at a shelter for disaster victims.

Its OK to brag a little. Every time you save a life, tell someone about it. When the kids yoututor take a reading test and score on grade level, shout it out so their parents and your prin-cipal know that you helped raise their scores. In doing so, youll be encouraging others to help.

Use the power of public relations. Tell your club sponsor and local Red Cross unit that youwant to write a press release and send it to your school newspaper, local newspapers andlocal radio station(s). Your local unit will usually have a broad base of contacts. Also askyour English teacher to give a lesson on how to write an effective press release that will catchan editors attention. A press release doesnt have to be the great American novel. All it really needs are the Five Wswho, what, when, where and why. If you have photographs,include one or two of the best ones with a caption. Who knows, perhaps youll see clubmember names and faces in print or on television.

And dont forget to create a Web site for your club, or ask to share in the schools Web site.Create links to other American Red Cross club sites and other volunteer groups. Promoteyour club in on-line chat rooms to get exposure and recruit new members.

Evaluating19Save a Life: A Student Guide to Starting a Red Cross School Club

Your Red Cross ClubYou have spent a few months in the club and keep coming back for more. Are you glad youjoined? Have you saved a life, improved a life, made someone smile? Are you proud of yourachievements? Have you made some new friends, had a good time, learned how to be aleader and part of a team? Do you want to stay in the club next semester, or be part of aRed Cross club in college?

Its good to test your satisfaction with the club by doing a reflective activity like the onebelow after a club service activity has been completed. Fold a sheet of paper into quarters.In each quarter, complete one of the following sentences:

The best thing about this project was

The most challenging thing about this project was

I discovered that other people

If I could improve this project, I would

Share your completed sentences at a follow-up Red Cross club meeting. The more effectively you serve your school or community, the greater your personal and group senseof achievement will be.

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STUDENTGUIDE

A Student Guide to Startinga Red Cross School Club

A1306July 2001

m16540513 high school student guide

Documents

red cross clubwww

localamerican red cross

theamerican red cross

red cross school clubhow

red cross club special

yourlocal red cross

school supplies

improveyour school