Red Cross for Kids
Mission
The Red Cross for Kids Committee is dedicated to providing a wide range of health and safety-related community service projects to children in the Durham community. Our two main initiatives include the First Aid for Children Today (FACT) and Basic Aid Training (BAT) programs, where we teach basic first aid and safety skills at schools and community centers in Durham. These programs aim at providing fundamental and essential knowledge in a fun and interactive setting. Besides our primary initiatives, we also complete other projects. For instance, in the past, we have worked with the Emergency Services committee to intimate a Toy and Book Drive for Hurricane Katrina relief efforts. We have also done activities with children and their families at the Durham Ronald McDonald House.
Projects
First Aid for Children Today (FACT)
The American Red Cross is a humanitarian organization begun in 1863. The organization today has its headquarters in Washington D.C., and is led by volunteers throughout the globe. We provide relief to victims of disasters, and we help people prevent, prepare for, and respond to personal, local, national, and international emergencies.
A fun, interactive program for young children (4-6 years of age) in which our instructors teach children about health and personal safety as well as what first aid measures they can take to help the environment. This 2006 year we have secured 10 different elementary school and community center sites.
FACT is a comprehensive health and safety education program for children in grades K-3.FACT has several goals:
- Teach children how to become aware of behaviors that can lead to injuries or illness.
- Teach children some ways to prevent injuries.
- Teach children some ways to respond to injuries.
- Encourage them to make choices that will positively influence their health and that of the environment.
FACT is a six-week program taught by trained Duke students. Each week, volunteers travel, in groups of two or more, to area Durham schools and teach kids in grades K-3 basic first-aid safety. Students prefer to work with no more than 25 children/ 2 volunteers. FACT is an afterschool program, but it is possible to hold mid-day sessions if the school prefers. Each lesson lasts about an hour. See below for a week by week lesson plan.
FACT volunteers try to make each lesson as interactive and interesting as possible. The children are encouraged to share stories of their own experiences so a discussion format rather than a lecture format is maintained.
WEEK 1 - FIRST AID FOR YOU
WEEK 2 - HEALTHY LIVING HABITS
WEEK 3 - CAREFUL KIDS
WEEK 4 - PREVENTING INJURIES
WEEK 5 - ROAD SAFETY
WEEK 6 - FIRST AID FOR THE ENVIRONMENT
BAT: Basic Aid Training
BAT instructors teach students from 3rd grade to 5th grade. Lessons are similar to FACT, but includes the opportunity to work with mannequins and various first aid materials. The major teaching units for BAT instructors are the following:
- The emergency action steps
- Rescue breathing
- Ways to prevent choking
- Ways to prevent and treat wounds like nose bleeds, animal bites and electric shock
- The fire rule -- Get out, Stay Out.
- All about poisoning and substance abuse
- How to swim safely
- How to water rescue
- What to do if you get lost
Getting Involved with Red Cross for Kids
We are always looking for more instructors and training sessions are offered at the beginning of every semester, both Fall and Spring. If you are interested, and sign up with Patricia Lo (lg30[at]duke[dot]edu) for the next training session!
If you are interested in implementing FACT or BAT in your local school or community center, please contact Lucy to set up possible starting dates and times. We are also open to implanting FACT or BAT as a one-time activity.
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