American Red Cross - Winona County Chapter

Thank you for your interest in becoming an American Red Cross Authorized Provider.

An Authorized Provider is an organization that has an American Red Cross-trained instructor as an employee. As an Authorized Provider, you can build your own training team to teach courses wherever and whenever you want to other employees or members of your organization. It's a cost effective way to offer training in First Aid, CPR, use of Automated External Defibrillators (AED), as well as other health and safety training.

Take Advantage of Multiple Benefits

As a Red Cross Authorized Provider, you can leverage nearly 100 years of lifesaving expertise and a brand that is trusted and recognized as belonging to the premier health and safety training organization. Being an Authorized Provider will also allow you to-

• Address regulatory issues specific to your business or industry.
• Create in-house experts who are familiar with your specific emergency procedures and equipment.
• Train large groups cost-effectively.
• Meet training needs on a regular basis and at your convenience.
• Work with the best instructor training and support system.

Access Flexible Training Options

Our First Aid/CPR/AED program allows you to combine course content-including adult, child and infant CPR, adult and child AED, and First Aid-to create the optimal training program for your business or organization.

We Handle the Administrative Tasks. We Help With Your Equipment Orders

As an Authorized Provider, you can focus on training. The Red Cross can issue certificates, process your orders for training materials and equipment, maintain records, provide you with training updates and help you promote courses in your community or organization.

For more information about becoming an Authorized Provider, contact  Dianne Thompson at 507-452-4258

Authorized Providers have a long history of working with the Red Cross to provide training and information in first aid and CPR, water safety, HIV/AIDS prevention education and caregiving. Authorized Providers are collaborators with the Red Cross in providing quality Health and Safety Services training in local communities. Whether providing training for their own employees, volunteers, clients or members of the community, authorized providers have an obligation to provide the highest quality training possible.

As an authorized provider you have agreed,  through the Authorized Provider Agreement, to provide American Red Cross instructional programs in accordance with the standards and objectives of the program you desire to offer. The Authorized Provider Agreement provides an outline of the mutual expectations, rights and responsibilities of both the Red Cross chapter and the authorized provider. Following the guidelines in this document ensures the integrity of American Red Cross programs and protects all parties involved-the authorized provider, the Red Cross, and the instructor. The agreement also outlines in writing how you will do business with the Red Cross.

Red Cross Responsibilities to the Authorized Provider
To assist you in offering quality training, the Red Cross is committed to providing the following responsibilities to authorized providers:

• Designate an individual to serve as your primary contact;
• Provide the finest programs based on research and input from our customers;
• Properly train your instructors;
• Ensure the quality of the program through ongoing evaluations and program development;
• Provide open communications with you;
• Provide information that you need to offer quality training as well as meet your training responsibilities;
• Provide services to you at a fair price, based on value;
• Provide American Red Cross course completion certificates in a timely manner;
• Maintain your instructors' records;
• Reauthorize your instructors who meet the criteria;
• Maintain course records for five years;
• Develop course curriculum and materials;
• Provide timely updates and information to instructors;
• Adhere to the terms of the Authorized Provider Agreement;
• Provide technical assistance to instructors;
• Provide a quality assurance program;
• Give permission to use the Red Cross name and emblem in promotion of Red Cross instructional programs (in strict accordance with Red Cross policies and procedures); and
• Provide flyers, brochures, posters and other course promotional materials produced by national headquarters.

Authorized Provider's Responsibilities
As an Authorized Provider, you also have responsibilities that are outlined in detail in the Authorized Provider Agreement. The following are the basic responsibilities of the Authorized Provider:

• Designate an individual to be the primary contact to the Red Cross;
• Identify only individuals who are qualified to be instructor candidates;
• Submit properly completed records and reports in the designated time frames;
• Keep the Red Cross informed of changes in an instructor's status;
• Support instructors' adherence to Red Cross policies and procedures;
• Respect the copyrighted materials, name and emblem of the American Red Cross;
• Assist the Red Cross in resolving issues that may arise with instructors;
• Maintain a safe environment suitable for the delivery of the programs;
• Maintain open communications with the Red Cross;
• Adhere to the terms of the Authorized Provider Agreement; and
• Inform course participants that the training is an American Red Cross course. The instructor should show visual Red Cross identification during the training.

Instructor Support
Successful training depends largely on the quality of the instructor. Both the American Red Cross and you have an obligation to support your instructor(s) in providing the best training possible.

In accordance with the Authorized Provider Agreement, the Red Cross will provide the following support to your instructors:

• Provide effective, quality instructor training;
• Provide effective evaluation;
• Provide information on updates and program revisions;
• Make available opportunities to volunteer for the American Red Cross;
• Provide opportunities for professional skill development by offering periodic instructor upgrades, instructor in-services, additional instructor specialty courses and co-teaching opportunities; and
• Make available the proper materials and equipment needed to conduct training.

The authorized provider also does the following to support an instructor:

• Make an instructor available to the Red Cross for training, retraining and other professional development-related activities;
• Supply American Red Cross print or audiovisual materials for support of the courses;
• Encourage an instructor to volunteer for the American Red Cross;
• Work with the Red Cross to ensure that quality instruction takes place at its facility; and
• Ensure that the appropriate, qualified individuals are selected to be trained as Red Cross instructors.

Certification and Authorization
Certification occurs when an instructor candidate successfully completes the instructor specialty course and is issued an Instructor Certificate signed by the instructor candidate and the instructor trainer. The candidate's signature on the Instructor Certificate indicates his or her willingness to conduct courses according to the requirements and procedures established by the American Red Cross. The certification of an instructor indicates that all requirements have been met on the date that the instructor candidate completes the instructor specialty course.

After successful completion of an instructor course, the new instructor must be authorized by a chapter to teach the applicable courses within its jurisdiction. Before an instructor can teach, the new instructor and a chapter official must sign the Instructor Agreement. Certified instructors may not teach until they have received authorization from a chapter. To obtain authorization to teach, the instructor should contact the chapter directly to arrange for authorization.

The chapter that initially authorizes an instructor to teach is the instructor's unit of authorization (home chapter). The instructor's unit of authorization is responsible for providing the instructor with information on chapter specific policies and procedures and is responsible for reauthorization of the instructor. If an instructor wants to teach in another chapter's jurisdiction, he or she must notify that chapter prior to any teaching and obtain extended authorization from that chapter. If an instructor teaches in another jurisdiction, it is his or her responsibility to provide copies of the Course Record to his or her unit of authorization.

Supporting Instructor Development
As a collaborator with the American Red Cross, your organization can help identify potential instructor candidates. The benefits to you include the ability to encourage instructor development and the opportunity to strengthen your ability to offer training to your constituencies. The benefits to the American Red Cross include expansion of training options for our customers and increased availability of training in the community.

Selecting the Right Instructor Candidate
To ensure the quality of American Red Cross Health and Safety Services training programs, it is important to select the appropriate person to enter the instructor course. Here are some characteristics to consider:

• An excellent communicator and educator;
• Knowledgeable about the subject taught;
• Positive and enthusiastic attitude;
• Patient and flexible;
• Professional demeanor; and
• Committed to teaching.

Quality Assurance
Quality assurance in American Red Cross Health and Safety Services programs is the responsibility of all parties: the American Red Cross, the authorized provider and the instructor. The Red Cross is the leader in quality health and safety training, and it maintains that status by authorizing instructors who adhere to the training standards and continually strive to provide exceptional training and service to the community.

You can help to maintain this high quality by using the following strategies:

• Choose the right individuals to become instructors;
• Support instructors' compliance with Red Cross policies and procedures by making sure they have the proper equipment, space and time to conduct the training;
• Make instructors available for additional training as necessary;
• Review, take action and monitor the information received from the course evaluation forms (course evaluation forms for students are available in the instructor manual for the applicable course);
• Observe instructors when they teach; and
• Encourage instructors to co-teach with other Red Cross trained instructors.

The Red Cross will also support you with its quality assurance efforts. In addition, the Red Cross takes steps to ensure its training standards are maintained. These include:

• Providing high quality instructor training;
• Establishing and explaining all national and local policies, regulations and procedures that relate to the instructor's responsibilities including the Instructor Agreement;
• Making co-teaching opportunities available to instructors;
• Monitoring of Course Record forms and other reporting forms for potential problems;
• Evaluating courses randomly by either surveying or observing the teaching of instructors; and
• Providing technical support to instructors.

Who Instructors Can Teach For
Under the terms of the Authorized Provider Agreement, the instructor, as an employee or volunteer for the authorized provider, may provide training using Red Cross courses to the authorized provider's employees, members and/or customers.

At times, instructors may be asked to conduct Red Cross training by organizations or individuals that are not directly affiliated with the authorized provider. When this occurs, the other organization may wish to become an authorized provider. The other organization may also wish to have the local Red Cross chapter provide full service training directly. In either case, the other organization should contact the Red Cross to make arrangements for training. The instructor may then have the opportunity to teach the course for the other organization or for the local chapter.

For more information about becoming an Authorized Provider, contact Dianne Thompson at 507-452-4258

Many Red Cross training programs require some type of manual, specialized training equipment and videos. The instructor manual outlines the specific text and equipment needs for each course. Maintaining the equipment ratios outlined in the instructor manual allow instructors to stay within the timelines for the training, as well as give course participants the time they need to properly practice and learn skills. Most of the materials needed to conduct Red Cross training are available directly from the Red Cross.

Books and Materials
Teaching materials such as participant books, instructor manuals and videos are available for purchase from the Red Cross. Videos may also be available to rent or to purchase

Equipment

Equipment used in Red Cross training must be maintained in good working order to ensure participant safety and effective teaching. Equipment that is not in good working order or is dirty detracts from the participant's willingness to learn and practice effectively. All equipment used in Red Cross training should be maintained according to manufacturer guidelines. Equipment such as CPR manikins should be cleaned after each use according to the manufacturer guidelines and properly cleaned between each participant. More detail on manikin decontamination, including Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines, is available in instructor manuals for courses that teach CPR. When using equipment in training, you should ensure that instructors take all the necessary safety precautions.

Equipment Rental & Purchase
Please refer to the Authorized Provider Agreement for rental fees.
All equipment should be returned in good working order and in the condition in which it was received. If there is a problem with the equipment, please notify your contact with the local Red Cross chapter. Some equipment and supplies such as manikins, AED trainers and accessories may be available for purchase through the local chapter.
To rent or purchase equipment please call Dianne Thompson at 507-452-4258