NIRSA is thrilled to announce a new three-year contract with the American Red Cross to continue providing NIRSA member institutions valuable, life-saving skills on their campus and in their community. As part of the NIRSA Discounts & Rewards Program, the American Red Cross offers professionals and students working at NIRSA institutions discounted certification courses and retail products purchased through its online store.
Ask yourself: Is your campus prepared to respond when moments matter—whether poolside, in a classroom or at the dining hall? Read on to learn how NIRSA institutional member Washington State University takes advantage of its American Red Cross discounts to ensure its staff are trained in lifesaving programs for a safer campus.
Fostering a better prepared campus with emergency training
While accidents can happen at any time, a 2013 study in the Journal of College Student Psychotherapy found that campus communities “afford relatively safe and supportive environments.” One reason may be the attention paid to creating safe environments before accidents happen.
Washington State University, for example, trains more than 550 people annually in American Red Cross classes ranging from basic swimming instruction to First Aid/CPR/AED. WSU employees are taught to observe situations and take actions to avoid potential trouble; and, in fact, every recreation staff member has reported using their skills either on or off the job to recognize and prevent emergencies.
“We do such a good job teaching people the skills of early recognition of potential issues that we don’t need to respond to a life-threatening emergency very often,” says Jared Lindorfer, Coordinator, Aquatics & Safety Education for WSU.
Customizing emergency training for specific campus needs
In addition to those at WSU, the American Red Cross trains more than 4.6 million people in lifesaving programs every year. Most American Red Cross training, including the popular First Aid/CPR/AED and Lifeguarding programs, is available at a 20% discount to individuals at NIRSA institutional member schools.
This 20% discount includes the newly updated First Aid/CPR/AED course featuring “active learning,” a proven education methodology that heightens learner attention and engagement while improving learner confidence. In this method, the emphasis is on peer-to-peer learning with participants taking turns simulating the role of active lifesaver, coach, and observer.
Students and staff used to long-distance learning during a COVID environment will appreciate the American Red Cross blended learning option featuring “adaptive learning,” a methodology that allows learners to take an online pre-assessment and then receive time-saving training customized to their educational needs.
Finally, in the age of micro-learning, American Red Cross “Skill Boosts” are 45-minute mini courses that can be selected based on campus needs. These courses can stand alone or be combined with First Aid/CPR/AED and consist of modules addressing anaphylaxis and epinephrine auto-injection; asthma and quick-relief medication administration; life-threatening bleeding and tourniquets; opioid overdoses and naloxone; and head, neck, muscle, bone, and joint injuries and splinting.
Leverage your NIRSA Members Discounts
Through the NIRSA Discounts & Rewards Program, the American Red Cross offers NIRSA institutional members a 20% discount on all certification courses, 50% off the Lifeguard Management Online Course, access to disaster preparedness resources, and 10% off eligible retail products purchased through redcrossstore.org.
To take advantage of this promotional pricing, please reach out to Northeast Aquatics Manager Gwen McNamara at gwen.mcnamara3@redcross.org. For more information about NIRSA Discounts & Rewards, please contact NIRSA Expo & Corporate Relations Coordinator Kelley Hungerford.
Gwen McNamara is currently the Northeast Aquatics Manager at American Red Cross Training Services.
