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World First Aid Day
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
are participating in 2005, on 10 September, under the theme “First
aid with vulnerable and marginalized people”. On this day,
they organize events and ceremonies in order to raise public awareness
and communities’ understanding of the positive implications
and essential role 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.
In other words, 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. “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.
You will find below some examples of Red Cross
and Red Crescent programmes which demonstrate that first aid contributes
to stronger communities by building confidence, trust and self-esteem
among vulnerable people.
 National Society activities for World First Aid Day 2005
9 September 2005 - Press release
Overcoming marginalization and vulnerability through first aid
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Afghanistan:
helping people to protect themselves
Over the last eight years, the Afghan
Red Crescent’s community-based first aid programme has
brought life-saving skills and awareness about health issues
to a country where access to health care is not guaranteed,
especially in remote villages.
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Australia:
first aid programme to fight drug and alcohol abuse
It could be any club in any Australian
city, loud, pulsing rhythms, flashing lights, a dance floor
packed with hundreds of young people gathered to party. Dancing,
drinking and maybe drugs. Probably the last place that you would
expect to find volunteers from the Australian Red Cross. Since
2000, Red Cross volunteers have been doing the rounds of clubs
and music festivals as part of its Save-a-Mate programme, to
educate young people.
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Papua
New Guinea: young people learn valuable skills
First aid courses in Papua New
Guinea are giving unemployed young people a sense of purpose
in their communities and helping to raise their awareness
of wider health issues, such as HIV/AIDS.
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Syria:
targeting the most vulnerable groups
Through
its community-based first aid programme, the Syrian Arab Red
Crescent is developing a national network of trained volunteers
to support the most vulnerable people and provide remote communities
with access to basic health care.
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Zimbabwe:
first aid is the first step in HIV/AIDS home care
Every week, dozens of Zimbabwe Red
Cross home-based care facilitators exercise their essential
first aid skills in supporting people living with HIV/AIDS and
their families, bringing them basic medical supplies, food,
and teaching them home nursing.
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