BELSS
Frequently Asked Questions
Have a question? Send your questions to oganowsk.joan@uwlax.edu. We'll reply to your email and post your question on this page!
Can a participant who lives in one state attend a workshop in another state?
There are no restrictions that limit people to attending workshops in their home state. In fact, we encourage potential participants to learn about the workshops in all four states because of some unique opportunities in specific states. Some information presented at the workshops will be state-specific, such as Coordinated School Health Programs and Networking among Safety Professionals, so participants who attend out-of-state workshops can contact the BELSS Office at (608) 785-6785 if they wish to receive information about these services in their home state.
How do I register for a workshop?
There are different registration options for each state. Visit www.uwlax.edu/BELSS, select States, choose the state whose workshops you are interested in, and view the Registration options. Most states have phone, online, and/or mail-in registration. If you have questions about registering, contact your state coordinator or call the BELSS Office at (608) 785-6785.
You make several references to “emergency health.” I haven’t heard this term before. What does it mean?
Emergency health is a new term that the BELSS Team has coined to represent all of the areas that the BELSS Initiative focuses on. It encompasses injury prevention, safety, first aid, CPR, AED, emergency preparedness, and coordinated school health. More importantly, it represents the interaction and integration of these components. BELSS is the first comprehensive model of emergency health in schools.
Does a teacher at every grade level need to be trained?
Because one goal of the BELSS Initiative is to create preK-12 comprehensive injury prevention education throughout our states, we encourage school districts to send a team of professionals that represent different levels and areas of safety education. However, it is not required and many individuals have come to the workshops alone. Many of these individuals then go back to their districts and communities and urge others to attend an upcoming workshop.
Will the program be effective if it is not taught at all grades?
Safety education is most effective if it includes
the entire spectrum of emergency care -
safety, injury prevention, first aid, emergency preparedness, CPR and AED
Do trainings take place during the school day?
BELSS workshops are held from 8 am to 5 pm each day for two days. Some tracks may run into the evening hours. Attendance is encouraged at all sessions throughout the day and is mandatory to receive materials and certifications. The two-day workshops are held on different days of the week, depending on site availability, but will include at least one school day.
Is there monetary compensation to the district for hiring subs?
The BELSS Initiative cannot compensate districts for sub-pay at this time, but the benefits of the two-day workshop outweigh the cost of sub pay. For a low registration cost (which covers site costs and food for the two days), a participant receives free certifications and curriculum materials that would cost a district as much as $500!
Is the curriculum designed to be taught throughout the year, or as a short unit lasting a couple weeks?
The implementation times vary according to the specific curriculum, but most of the curriculums available through the BELSS Initiative are very flexible and can be adapted to an instructor's current schedule and curriculum needs. Check out the organization web sites listed below or check our "Thinking Out of the Box" list for alternative implementation ideas!
For information about American Red Cross curriculums, visit www.redcross.org.
For information about American Heart Association curriculums, visit www.americanheart.org.
For information about NFPA's Risk Watch® curriculum, visit www.riskwatch.org.