Thorben Haskins (Left) and Jeff Kazel (Right) tabling for Red Cross on the Refugee Exhibit on Thursday, Nov. 13.

Photo by Hannah Hutton | The Promethean

     Students at the University of Wisconsin – Superior (UWS) recently had the opportunity to learn about international humanitarian law and lifesaving emergency skills during the Red Cross Day event held on campus this fall. The event, which drew about 75 participants, is part of a long-standing partnership between UWS and the American Red Cross.

Jeff Kazel, regional director for the Service to the Armed Forces and International Services for the American Red Cross said the collaboration is rooted in strong local connections. “Our northern chapter’s executive director is a UWS graduate, and one of our lead international services instructors, who is a renowned expert, is also a professor at UWS,” he said.

One of the attractions was the Refugee Exhibit. This interactive experience helped students understand the daily challenges faced by displaced people around the world, while also introducing them to the humanitarian laws that protect refugees. “It’s an example of what a day in the life of a refugee might be,” Kazel said. The exhibit was facilitated by Dr. Dokhanchi who is an internationally recognized services instructor and professor at UWS.

Students also had the opportunity to practice Hands-On CPR and participate in the Red Cross Holiday Cards for Heroes program which sends messages of care and encouragement to veterans, both active and retired. Kazel explained the Red Cross’s longstanding role supporting service members and their families, “We’re there at the beginning of their military careers, during deployments, and even in retirement homes.”

Owen Fifield, Disaster Program Manager and a Part of the Disaster Cycle Services at American Red Cross. Taken Nov. 13
Photo by Hannah Hutton | The Promethean

Many students took part in these activities, but this year’s Hands-Only CPR sessions saw lower than usual attendance. But for Owen Fifield, Red Cross Community Disaster Program Manager, “Turnout never determines the value of the work. If you can learn a presentation that will help others learn a life-saving skill in thirty minutes, you should do it.”

Fifield joined the Red Cross in 2012 through the AmeriCorps program. During his tenure, he has trained volunteers, conducted community outreach, and taught preparedness programs for all ages. When asked why this work was so important, he responded, “when it comes to cardiac emergencies, bystanders save lives. The more bystanders trained, the better the chances someone will survive.”

The next Red Cross Day at UW-Superior is scheduled for March 25, 2026. For those interested in volunteering or seeking health and safety training, the Red Cross website offers resources and opportunities to get involved. For more information visit: https://www.redcross.org/volunteer/become-a-volunteer.html