FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Nov. 13, 2009
Contact: Nikonie Brown
(662) 329-7119
nnb1@muw.edu

Campus recreation has Red Shirt Drill Week at MUW

COLUMBUS, Miss. – Mississippi University for Women’s Department of Campus Recreation had its Red Shirt Drill Week Nov. 9-13.

Red Shirt Drill Week is used as a tool to help evaluate campus recreation’s student staff on how they handle emergency situations. Sprained ankles, physical altercations, heart attacks, spinal injuries, drowning and allergic reactions are examples of the emergency situations that were staged. The victim of the situation was usually a volunteer wearing a red shirt to signify that it was a drill. Professional staff evaluated how the student handled the situation.

Student manager Zach Simmons said, “I feel that drills are vital for campus rec employees as well as the members. I now feel more confident in my abilities to keep everyone safe and respond appropriately to any emergency.”

Red Shirt Drill Week was introduced to campus recreation staff in spring 2009 and is incorporated twice into each semester. Approximately 15-20 drills are staged a week at all times of the day and throughout the entire building.

“Our employees have told us they now feel more prepared for handling a real emergency as a result from our campus recreation emergency drill week,” said Suzanne Ries, assistant director of campus recreation.