Patricia F. Hilkert - Northwestern University

HEALTH PROMOTION & WELLNESS
RED WATCH BAND TEACHES LIFE-SAVING SKILLS TO
2000+ NU STUDENTS
Most NU students will never personally experience an alcohol
-related medical emergency yet may find themselves in a position
to help a friend who has over-consumed. At the same
time, they may hesitate to act since they are unsure of how to
help their friend safely. The Red Watch Band Bystander Intervention
training program, coordinated by the office of
Health Promotion and Wellness, has been training NU students
since spring quarter 2010 in order to help students be
prepared for these emergencies.
Topics covered during the one-time, two-hour training include
the basics of how alcohol progressively affects the body and
brain, steps for intervening properly, handling objectors to
taking action, practice on placing an intoxicated person in the proper recovery position, the NU Responsible
Action Protocol, and group discussions on realistic scenarios students may face. Each participant
receives a NU Red Watch Band silicone bracelet, a resource packet, and a certificate of completion, as
many of our student leaders are required to complete RWB as part of their positions.
Recently, the Red Watch Band (RWB) program reached a significant milestone -- over two thousand
NU students have completed this training in how to respond effectively to alcohol-related medical emergencies.
This has greatly increased the likelihood that a RWB-trained student will be present any time
there is an intoxicated person in need. Each year, 25 to 30 training sessions are held, with 550 to 600
students successfully completing the training. A team of HPaW staff, other Student Affairs staff, and
students serve as facilitators.
While there is no way to know definitively how many lives have been saved or injuries prevented,
HPaW’s ongoing assessment efforts provides evidence that Red Watch Band participants take away
increased willingness and confidence to help a friend who is intoxicated. They also retain the
knowledge and skills needed to intervene well past the training. Students have also shared many inspiring
stories of how their Red Watch Band skills have helped them to aid a friend, which indicates they
are playing an active role in keeping the Northwestern community safer. Red Watch Band goes beyond
alcohol emergency situations, though. The training emphasizes how important it is that there are nonand
low-risk drinkers when students are socializing with alcohol because these are the individuals who
will be able to provide help in emergency situations. In the past three and a half years, Red Watch
Band has created a supportive identity for those students who might feel uncomfortable telling their
peers that they choose not to drink or are choosing to drink low-risk: instead of drawing attention to a
student's choices with alcohol, it celebrates a student's decision to strengthen Northwestern's community
by keeping "watch" over their friends and fellow Wildcats.
The success of Red Watch Band has largely been made possible by the many student groups and departments
who embraced and supported the program from the beginning. This includes, but is not limited
to, New Student and Family Programs, Fraternity and Sorority Life, Interfraternity Council, Panhellenic
Association, Athletics’ PURPLE Peer Mentors, the Center for Student Involvement, and Catalyst.
Health Promotion and Wellness staff look forward to training the next 2,000 students in Red Watch
Band. Students should be encouraged to register for the training at www.northwestern.edu/
redwatchband.