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Overcoming
marginalization and vulnerability through first aid 9 September 2005 First aid is not just about saving lives in emergency situations. It can also be an essential factor in helping vulnerable or marginalized people get back on their feet and become more resilient, says the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies on World First Aid Day, to be marked this year on 10 September. “Learning to help others is a powerful way to change one’s attitudes towards oneself and one’s community. First aid builds solidarity between communities and marginalized people and encourages people to speak to each other, to support each other and to change their behaviour,” notes Markku Niskala, Secretary General of the International Federation. The head of the Federation’s health department, Bruce Eshaya-Chauvin, adds: “Many Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies around the world have already demonstrated that first aid does not just save lives and prevent injuries. It contributes to stronger communities by building confidence, trust and self-esteem among vulnerable people and supporting them to help themselves, and this at the very heart of communities.” Among the vulnerable and marginalized people already being helped by such programmes are groups with high health risks, people with special physical or mental needs, injecting drug users, young people living in poor neighbourhoods, the homeless, refugees, the destitute, the elderly, street children, prisoners and others. At the heart of the effectiveness and sustainability of most of these activities, is the fact that people from those groups become trainers themselves. In their programme, British Red Cross volunteers are trained to deliver both emergency first aid and healthy lifestyle messages to the Bangladeshi community in London, a group that suffers one of the highest rates of death from coronary heart disease in the country. In Zimbabwe, first aid is an essential part of the home care programme implemented by Red Cross volunteers and staff for people living with HIV/AIDS and their families. The Papua New Guinea and the French Red Cross Societies have similar goals in their first aid programmes. They train and work with unemployed youth or young people living in impoverished and violent neighbourhoods. First aid provides them with life-saving skills and a focus on helping their community, while raising their self-esteem. The Australian Red Cross “Save a Mate” project is a drug education and first aid programme specifically designed for alcohol and other drug-related emergencies, particularly among young people. Syrian Red Crescent first aiders bring their skills to remote villages to ensure that these populations, who often do not have easy access to health care, get training in first aid and health information. They also conduct health surveys in the villages to determine needs and vulnerabilities. Since 2000, a growing number of national Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies around the world celebrate the second Saturday of September as World First Aid Day. More than 100 will participate this year. On this day, they organize events and ceremonies in order to raise public awareness and communities’ understanding of the positive implications of first aid in day-to-day life as well as in emergencies, in accident and disease prevention as well as in the integration of marginalized groups in society. For further information, or to set up interviews, please contact: Marie-Françoise Borel, Information Officer Tel. + 41 22 730 4346 / +41 79 416 3881 The Geneva-based International Federation promotes the humanitarian activities of 181 National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies among vulnerable people. By coordinating international disaster relief and encouraging development support, it seeks to prevent and alleviate human suffering. The Federation, National Societies and the International Committee of the Red Cross together, constitute the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. © International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies |
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