The island of Cuba has a long history of prevention work in the face of emergencies such as earthquakes and the increasing number of severe tropical storms like Hurrican Ian in September 2022, or Oscar, in October 2024.
The Cuban Red Cross lifeguard programme was established in 1959, when the first lifeguard schools were set up in Guanabo and Varadero to prevent drowning accidents.
“Our specialists are trained in victim care, so they can save a person's life within the first ten minutes,” explains Luis Enrique Calderón Rodríguez, Operations and Relief Coordinator for the Cuban Red Cross.
“All of these individuals must complete a specialized first aid course so that they can respond to disasters, floods and water-related incidents, and provide adequate care to potential victims throughout the country,” adds Calderón.
Around 16,000 of the Cuban Red Cross's 39,000 volunteers are dedicated to rescue and salvage work and one of their main tasks is to prevent drownings on beaches, where every year thousands of local visitors and tourists enjoy the sea in their free time.
A girl who saves lives
Children also play an active role in prevention. Many of today's rescuers started volunteering at a young age.
One of the volunteers off to an early start is Angelina González who is a passionate advocate of first aid in Varadero. She has been an active member of the Cuban Red Cross Interest Group at Martín Klein Schiller Elementary School for the past three years.
At 11 years old, Angelina has mastered the technique of abdominal compressions, also known as the Heimlich maneuver, and knows how to transport an injured person on a stretcher. She also knows how to protect herself during earthquakes or thunderstorms.
“This knowledge has helped us inform family members and friends who don't know about first aid,” says Angelina.
Simple actions such as knowing emergency numbers, providing the exact address and waiting for the operator to end the call are among the things that the children practice in the interest group.
“In case of drowning at the beach, we must pay attention to safety measures such as flags,"
Angelina explains. “The red flag indicates that swimming is absolutely prohibited, as it can be dangerous. The yellow flag means that you can swim, but with caution, as beach conditions could suddenly deteriorate. The green flag means that you can swim freely, as the sea will be calm.”
Life-saving skills for the whole community
First aid training in Cuba is not only intended for Red Cross volunteers but also aims to provide everyone in the community with the skills to protect themselves and assist others when needed.
One of the most powerful tools is reliable information. This educational network comprises newsletters, the dissemination of materials via WhatsApp, talks in children's circles, workshops in local institutions, and practical advice to families, schools and tourism companies.
“With the support of Radio Varadero, informative and preventive messages are broadcast daily on radio magazines such as Sonido Azul,” says Yania Pérez Ballesté, the teacher who leads the interest group.
“This is especially important in the summer months, when tourism increases, as does the risk of accidents on beaches and at recreation centres” she adds.
Local authorities recognize the Cuban Red Cross as a key ally. “Even the president of the People's Power Council here in Varadero jokingly says that the Red Cross is her advisor because she consults with us whenever there is an issue related to health or hygiene,” says Pérez.
The professor also highlights the creation of a brigade to reestablish family contact and search for people in evacuation centres in the event of a cyclone or other crisis or disaster.
The Cuban Red Cross's first aid work in Varadero has resulted in the creation of a living network that includes:
Children who share what they have learnt with those around them.
Educational staff facilitate the dissemination of information and coordinate talks and workshops.
Radio stations and social media platforms that disseminate preventive messages.
Rescue teams that can act in seconds.
From Angelina's enthusiasm in explaining how to interpret the beach flags to the lifeguard's quick action in performing a vital maneuver, every action, no matter how small, contributes to creating a safer community.
Knowing first aid and basic lifesaving skills around water is becoming increasingly important as climate-related events become less predictable, with storms becoming more frequent and severe, and storm surges becoming more intense.