02/04/2026 |

Article

Through rubble and loss, Iranian Red Crescent teams continue saving lives amid escalating hostilities

This article is based on the emergency response efforts as of 2 April 2026.As hostilities continue to escalate across Iran, civilians are bearing the brunt of the violence, with attacks reported across 30 out of 31 provinces.In less than a month, more than 2,000 people have been killed, including women and children, and at least 21,000 injured. Many families have been forced to flee their homes, with an estimated 3 per cent of Iran’s population of around 92 million now internally displaced.Homes, neighbourhoods and essential services have been damaged, placing growing pressure on hospitals, shelters, and basic infrastructure.At the forefront of the response, the Iranian Red Crescent Society (IRCS) has mobilized its nationwide network of volunteers and emergency teams to support affected communities, providing life-saving assistance in some of the hardest-hit areas.Rescue amid the destructionIn the city of Salmas, in West Azerbaijan province, Iranian Red Crescent Society rescuers worked alongside the Fire Department after reports that someone was trapped beneath rubble following an attack.Specialized search and rescue teams carefully worked through the debris, eventually locating the person alive. The survivor was safely extracted and transferred for medical treatment.It is one of thousands of rescues carried out by IRCS teams since the escalation began, including children pulled from collapsed buildings and families reached in the immediate aftermath of attacks.A nationwide humanitarian responseFrom the earliest moments of the escalation, the Iranian Red Crescent Society mobilized at scale.Today, it remains the primary humanitarian actor in the country, with 529 branches activated across all 31 provinces and operations reaching 197 cities. Around 100,000 responders, including volunteers, medical teams and rescue personnel, are working around the clock to support affected communities.Search and rescue teams, ambulances, clinics, pharmacies and logistics units are all engaged in delivering life-saving assistance. So far, more than 3,500 people have been rescued from affected areas.At the same time, the response extends beyond immediate physical needs. Through a nationwide hotline, the Iranian Red Crescent has provided psychological and social support to people in distress, receiving more than 100,000 calls from across the country.In West Azerbaijan province, where families displaced by the hostilities have been relocated to emergency shelters, psychosocial support teams are present on site, with a particular focus on supporting children and families as they cope with trauma, fear and loss.Pressure, danger and lossDespite the scale of the response, the operating environment remains extremely challenging.Eighteen IRCS centres have been struck, and nearly 100 ambulances have been damaged or destroyed — critical assets in a context where they often represent the only chance of survival for those injured.Relief workers themselves have not been spared. Three IRCS members have been killed while carrying out their humanitarian duties, includingSomayeh Mir Abu Es’haq, who lost her life during an attack while on duty in Isfahan Province, andHamidreza Jahanbakhsh, who was killed earlier during a search and rescue operation,and Alireza Sohbatloo, who was killed in an attack while providing services at a Red Crescent clinic in Zanjan. As of 1 April 2026, at least 17 other colleagues have been injured while in the line of duty since the escalation began.For many responders, these challenges are not only operational, but deeply personal.In Qom, an IRCS first responder was confronted with the devastating reality of recovering his aunt and her husband from beneath the rubble, alongside a young child.Such moments reflect a broader truth. Many responders are not only witnessing tragedy, they are living it.It is a stark reminder of the burden carried by humanitarian workers, continuing to save lives under immense pressure, even while grieving their own loved ones.Continuing despite the challengesDespite the immense challenges, support continues to come from across the country, both through organized response efforts and individual acts of solidarity.A young barber, Alireza Kazemi, also known as Kenzo, has been volunteering his services to Iranian Red Crescent Society rescuers, offering haircuts to help lift morale during long and demanding shifts.“I wanted them and their families to feel a bit better despite these conditions. I worked from 1:45 PM yesterday until 5:00 AM this morning to provide this service, and we will continue working to reach other areas,” he said.“I was outside Iran, but when the escalation began, I felt the need to come back and provide my services here. I want to help my people in any way I can.”Scaling up support for the responseThe IFRC and its network is supporting the Iranian Red Crescent Society by scaling up critical resources to sustain the response.An initial allocation of 1.5 million Swiss francs from the IFRC’s Disaster Response Emergency Fund (DREF) has enabled the rapid procurement of essential medical supplies and protective equipment for frontline responders.In addition, a 40 million Swiss franc Emergency Appeal has been launched to support up to 5 million people affected by the crisis. Through this appeal, the IFRC is providing operational support and facilitating international procurement and delivery of critical relief items.You can support the Iranian Red Crescent Society’s response and help reach more people in need by contributing to the IFRC Emergency Appealhere.

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13/09/2025 |

Article

From beaches to streets: 16,000 Cuban Red Cross volunteers save lives with first aid and rescue

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 livesChildren 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 communityFirst 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.

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12/09/2025 |

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World First Aid Day 2025: How first aid training prepares Lao PDR for a changing climate

Every year, millions of people face sudden emergencies — from road accidents to floods and heatwaves. As the climate crisis fuels more extreme weather, the ability to provide lifesaving First Aid has never been more critical.In Lao PDR, where floods, landslides, and droughts are becoming more frequent, community members are often the first responders. First Aid training enables people to treat injuries, prevent complications, and stabilize lives until medical help arrives.Since July 2025, for example, the Lao Red Cross (LRC) has been responding to widespread flooding triggered by Tropical Depression Wipha, which has affected more than 172,000 people across multiple provinces.With support from the IFRC Disaster Response Emergency Fund (DREF), LRC branches have provided relief and essential services including First Aid for injured community members.These recent emergency response interventions underscore how lifesaving First Aid skills are critical not only in daily life but also in the face of climate-driven disasters.One of the most vital skills is Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR). Survival chances decrease by 10 per cent for every minute without CPR and defibrillation. These skills are especially crucial in remote areas, where access to health services is limited or delayed after disasters.Red Cross first-aid trainers such as Kaithong Sesavath, who is also Deputy Head of the LRC Basic Health Department, bring these life-saving lessons regularly to schools and community gatherings.“By bringing training into schools, LRC is empowering teachers and students with practical skills that save lives in both everyday accidents and climate-related emergencies,” says Kaithong. “CPR is especially important because it keeps blood and oxygen flowing when someone stops breathing or their heart stops.”Backed by international solidaritySupport for this work comes from the Japanese Red Cross Society (JRCS) through the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC). For the past six years, this support has allowed LRC to implement a comprehensive project aimed at “strengthening the capacity of Lao Red Cross staff on First Aid promotion for the public and communities”.Since 2019, 76 staff from LRC Headquarters and provincial branches have been trained to become first aid trainers, and more than 2,500 teachers and students across 16 provinces have been trained in first aid.The project is now at the end of Phase II, which focuses on six provinces (Oudomxay, Xiengkhouang, Bokeo, Champasak, Savannakhet, and Xaysomboun). During this phase, LRC also developed and launched training materials, including a first aid manual and guidelines tailored to the country’s specific needs, according to Dr. Soulany Chansy, Head of the LRC Emergency Health Division.Likewise, the trainings are adapted to meet the needs of local communities and integrated with local emergency response planning.“Earlier this year, during a monitoring visit in Bokeo province, I saw how staff adapted training to local contexts and strengthened coordination,” added Aya Mizutani, IFRC Health Delegate. “Their practical demonstrations reflected not only knowledge gained but also motivation to improve First Aid delivery.”The project also allows them to share knowledge and experience throughout the country. In July 2025, LRC hosted its First Aid Annual Meeting and Workshop in Vientiane. The two-day event gathered representatives from LRC headquarters and six provincial branches, IFRC, JRCS, and national ministries, to reflect on progress, share experiences, and plan for the next phase.First aid for a safer futureThe LRC experience shows that First Aid is more than an emergency response — it is a foundation for resilience. By equipping communities with lifesaving knowledge, First Aid is not only protecting lives today but also preparing Lao PDR to face the growing risks of climate change with strength and readiness.This commitment reflects IFRC’s Strategy 2030, which aims to make First Aid accessible to everyone, everywhere. By embedding it into daily life, communities are ready not only for today’s accidents but also for tomorrow’s climate-driven emergencies.By Kwanta Norkum, IFRC, Communications and Reporting Officer

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12/09/2025 |

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First Aid in Africa: When every second counts, Red Cross driven to save lives

In the bustle of Kampala’s streets, motorcycle taxis – known as boda-bodas – weave between cars, carrying millions of Ugandans every day. Accidents are frequent, and too often, precious minutes are lost before medical help arrives.But something is changing. Riders like Luyambi John, a boda-boda driver from Rubaga division, now carry not only their passengers but also lifesaving knowledge.“We don’t usually know how to help our friends who get involved in road traffic accidents,” John admits. “But the training showed us how togivecardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and call the Red Cross ambulance. Now, I feel I can save a life.”This transformation is no accident. It is the result of Uganda Red Cross Society’s commitment to innovate and find new ways to share first aid skills and ensure that lifesaving skills are no longer the preserve of professionals.Over the past three years, Uganda Red Cross has trained more than 18,000 boda-boda riders through the SAFE STEPS campaign, a unique program that merges road safety awareness with first aid training. In a country where motorcycles are both vital transport and a leading cause of road injuries, the approach is as practical as it is visionary.But Uganda’s ambition does not stop at the roadside. In 2025, it launched the First Aid Blended Learning (FABL) platform, a cutting-edge app designed with Belgian Red Cross. This platform combines self-paced online study with practical sessions in 51 branches across the country, aiming to train 2,500 new first aiders by the end of 2025.“At URCS, we firmly believe that first aid should be accessible to all,” insists Secretary General Robert Kwesiga. “It is a life-saving skill that strengthens emergency response and builds safer, more resilient communities.”And in classrooms across Uganda, the seeds are being sown even earlier. More than 6,400 students have taken part in “Everyday First Aid” quizzes and trainings, turning curiosity into confidence, and ensuring the next generation of Ugandans grows up not only learning math and science, but also how to save a life.But this is just one example of the many innovative ways African Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies are helping people act with confidence in the face of crisis. On World First Aid Day (12 August), we highlight a few case studies, from Lesotho, to Central Africa to Cameroon.Lesotho: Safety on the road, security at homeA thousand miles to the south, in the mountain kingdom of Lesotho, a different journey unfolds. Here, the Lesotho Red Cross Society (LRCS) has struck a powerful alliance with local taxi associations. Drivers, once seen only as transporters, are now becoming first responders on wheels, trained to stabilize passengers or pedestrians injured on the road.At the same time, LRCS is reaching into households and villages. Domestic helpers, people with disabilities, and rural volunteers are receiving training designed to fit their realities — practical, relevant, and immediately usable. To reinforce these skills, simulations and awareness campaigns are organized, revealing gaps and building confidence.In a country where winding roads and remote villages can delay ambulances, these efforts ensure that help is never far away. The lesson is clear: first aid thrives when it grows both in the taxis of the capital and in the kitchens of rural homes.Central African Republic: From learners to teachersIn Central African Republic, the story is one of multiplication. With the support of trainers from the Belgian Red Cross, volunteers from different local committees completed an intensive training-of-trainers program.The National President of the Central African Red Cross, speaking at the closing ceremony, reminded them: “These skills must not remain with you alone. They are to be passed on. Training must become a program shared by all committees.”The new approach ensures consistency and professionalism: certificates will now be issued centrally by the Red Cross Secretariat General, guaranteeing that whether one is trained in Bangui or in the smallest village, the standards — and the confidence — remain the same.Here, the focus is on creating a ripple effect: one trained volunteer becomes a trainer, and soon an entire community knows what to do when emergencies strike.Cameroon: Planting the seeds earlyMeanwhile, in Cameroon, the Red Cross has chosen to start young. For the past six years, during every school holiday, children and teenagers gather for hands-on first aid training.This year alone, more than 150 young people took part. They practiced placing a classmate in the recovery position, learned how to stop a bleeding wound, and discovered that saving a life is not beyond their reach.The goal is not only to teach techniques but to instill confidence and reflexes that may one day turn a child into a hero.A continental threadThough the contexts differ — Uganda’s bustling boda-boda drivers, Lesotho’s taxis and households, Bangui's multiplying trainers, Cameroon’s holiday classrooms — the thread is the same. First aid is becoming woven into the very fabric of African communities.Across the continent, Red Cross and Red Crescent volunteers are breaking barriers:Technology is making training more accessible.Partnerships are expanding reach into high-risk sectors.Children and youth are being empowered early.Volunteers are evolving into trainers, multiplying impact.Together, these efforts are redefining what it means to be prepared.Because every second countsEmergencies strike without warning. A crash on a highway. A faint in a classroom. A fall in a kitchen. In those moments, the first person on the scene is rarely a doctor — it is a neighbor, a driver, a child.Africa’s Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies are ensuring that when that moment comes, the first hands to reach out will know what to do. And in doing so, they are not only saving lives — they are building a continent where resilience begins in every home, every street, every school.

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11/04/2025 |

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Empress Shōken Fund announces grants in 2025 to support Red Cross and Red Crescent projects in 17 countries

The Joint Commission of the Empress Shōken Fund (ESF) has announced a new distribution of funds, totalling 502,578 Swiss francs, which will support 16 projects run by 17 National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. The commission is administered by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).The projects chosen cover a variety of issues, including blood transfusion services, disaster preparedness, first aid and rescue, health, youth and National Society development.The countries where the projects are being implemented are Afghanistan, Argentina, Angolajointly with Mozambique, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ecuador, Fiji, Ghana, Guatemala, Jordan, Morocco, Slovakia, Slovenia, Somalia, Trinidad and Tobago and Zambia.The ESF received 63 applications over the last year for the 104th distribution of income, representing the largest number of applications ever received.In 2024, the ESF strengthened its pipeline of innovation initiatives by enhancing the rigour of its application, review and learning processes. This was done by introducing an innovation framework, making the selection criteria clearer, using innovation experts for assessments and promoting structured experimentation to enable more impactful, replicable solutions across the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.As a result of these enhancements, the quality of applications in 2024 improved significantly, with proposals demonstrating greater innovation, clarity and alignment with the Movement’s priorities.This upward trend confirms the value of ESF’s reinforced focus on innovation, experimentation and learning, and it highlights the ongoing need to support National Societies as they test and scale up new approaches to increase the impact of their humanitarian projects.With a total value of over 15 million Swiss francs, the ESF supports projects run by National Societies that benefit the communities they serve in many different ways. The first ESF grant was awarded in 1921 to help five European National Societies fight the spread of tuberculosis.Since then, over16 million Swiss francs has been allocated to 175 National Societies.The grants are announced every year on 11April, the anniversary of the death of Her Majesty Empress Shōken, one of the founders of the Japanese Red Cross Society.2025 grantsBlood donation and first aidFiji: Digital blood donation platformFiji struggles with maintaining stable blood supplies due to logistical gaps and low donor engagement. This initiative creates a mobile app that will help the National Society manage donors, improve communication and gamify the donation experience. As Fiji’s first digital blood management tool, it will revolutionize outreach and retention of blood donors. With many small island states facing similar challenges, the app-based solution is a promising, replicable model.Slovakia: First aid digital educationSlovakia has one of the lowest levels of first aid knowledge in Europe, leading to thousands of preventable deaths. This initiative introduces the first free digital first aid training app and course in the country, making life-saving knowledge accessible and engaging. Its innovation lies in removing cost and access barriers through interactive learning. The tools are digital by design and can be shared or adapted widely across Europe.Disaster preparedness and responseAngola and Mozambique: Peer-to-peer disaster responseThis initiative marks the first peer-to-peer learning initiative between two Portuguese-speaking National Societies – Angola and Mozambique – in which each National Society will build on the strengths of the other to co-develop disaster-preparedness systems. Facing frequent emergencies and limited coordination mechanisms, this initiative introduces shared procedures, a joint volunteer tracking system and collaborative training workshops. It sets a precedent for mutual capacity strengthening and cross-border cooperation, offering a scalable and replicable model for other linguistic or regional partnerships.Trinidad and Tobago: Drones and geographical information systems for disaster preparednessFlood-prone rural communities lack risk data and real-time early warning systems. This initiative empowers them with drones and geographical information systems technology for local hazard mapping, training community resilience groups to lead disaster planning. It is the first initiative of its kind in the country and places cutting-edge technology in the hands of local actors. The model is well positioned for replication in small island and disaster-prone areas globally.Health and hygieneAfghanistan: Integrated TB/HIV screening at mental health centreIn Afghanistan, mental health patients are often excluded from mainstream TB/HIV health services, increasing the risk of outbreaks. This initiative fills that gap by integrating screening within a Red Crescent mental health centre, complemented by staff training and stigma reduction campaigns. The innovation lies in combining mental and infectious disease services under one roof, with strong potential for replication across other health centres and conflict settings.Argentina: Mental health and gambling preventionWith online gambling addiction surging among teens, this youth-led initiative tackles a growing mental health crisis through research, prevention education and advocacy. This is Argentina’s first national study on adolescent gambling, and uniquely integrates youth participation at all levels. The mix of data-driven policy work and peer-led awareness offers a model that can be applied in other countries facing similar digital addiction trends.Guatemala: Healthy life, healthy communityWith dengue cases surging, volunteers in Guatemala are unprepared to respond effectively. This initiative trains volunteers in prevention and equips them to lead micro-projects and clean-up campaigns. The innovative element is the initiative’s use of volunteers as community health educators and action leaders, supported by digital tools for tracking. The model’s grassroots structure makes it easy to replicate in other vector-borne disease hotspots.Somalia: Soap factory initiativePoor hygiene infrastructure and reliance on costly hygiene-related imports leave Somali communities vulnerable to preventable diseases. This initiative sets up a volunteer-run soap factory to produce affordable hygiene products locally. The initiative is innovative in how it fuses local manufacturing with WASH programme delivery and community engagement. The small-scale, volunteer-led model is ideal for replication across Somalia and in other resource-constrained settings.Youth engagement and empowermentBosnia and Herzegovina: Climate action ambassadors fellowshipThis programme not only fills a leadership vacuum but directly counters youth emigration by giving young people a reason to stay engaged locally. With tools like a volunteer handbook and leadership camps, it systematizes climate-action learning. The success of this initiative opens pathways for replication by any National Society seeking to activate youth climate leadership.Jordan: Youth engagement and activity centreJordanian youth volunteers lack structured spaces and systems to coordinate humanitarian action, leading to low retention and missed opportunities. This initiative establishes a dedicated Youth Engagement Centre and a digital volunteer management system to professionalize and energize youth participation. It is the first of its kind in Jordan, combining physical space, tech and training to build a volunteer pipeline. With its modular set-up and digital backbone, it is highly replicable across National Societies seeking to scale up their impact for young people.Slovenia: Let’s Face the ClimateThe initiative addresses the lack of involvement of young people in climate programming by giving them tools and platforms to lead change. By integrating structured curricula with digital tools and advocacy channels, it makes climate action tangible and appealing to young people. The blended format – interactive learning and youth-led projects – offers a replicable strategy for youth mobilization across Europe and beyond.Livelihoods and economic empowermentEcuador: Gamified hydroponics for food securityFood insecurity and youth unemployment are growing in rural Ecuador, compounded by land and water scarcity. This initiative uses gamified learning to teach hydroponic farming – blending tech, nature and hands-on education. Its innovation lies in making sustainable agriculture fun and accessible, especially to young people. The approach is highly replicable, especially in areas facing similar climate and food system pressures.Morocco: Vocational skills for rural womenRural women in Bab Taza face high unemployment due to lack of formal education and skills training. This initiative will build a local training centre offering sewing, tailoring and marketing workshops to turn skills into sustainable income. It is innovative in how it bridges vocational skills with entrepreneurship and branding, setting women up for long-term independence. Its modular approach makes it adaptable for other rural areas across the region.Climate action and environmental sustainabilityGhana: The Green WomenRural communities in Ghana face worsening climate-related impacts, water scarcity and soil degradation, with women and young people often excluded from sustainable economic opportunities. This women-led initiative addresses the urgent need for climate-resilient agriculture by providing mobile solar irrigation, composting and tree planting. Its innovation lies in combining renewable technology with agroforestry and business skills, creating both environmental and economic resilience. With scalable solar irrigation units and replicable training modules, the project can be adapted across similar farming communities.Democratic Republic of the Congo: Green School BrigadeWith massive deforestation and limited environmental education, young people in the DRC are disconnected from climate action. This initiative activates school brigades to lead tree planting and environmental education, promoting youth volunteerism and long-term climate consciousness. It is innovative in how it embeds humanitarian values into environmental action at a school level, and is highly replicable across schools and provinces with basic resources and Red Cross Youth coordination.Zambia: Youth-driven sustainable waste managementRapid urbanization and poor waste management in Lusaka’s informal settlements create major health and climate risks, particularly for young people. This youth-led initiative tackles waste through recycling, composting and community awareness, while creating green jobs. Its innovation lies in linking environmental action with youth economic empowerment, supported by digital tools and local business partnerships. The model is community-driven and scalable to other urban areas across Africa.Read about the Empress Shôken Fund’s grant allocations in 2024.

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18/03/2025 |

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Papua New Guinea: How first-aid training helped a local mother save a one-year-old boy

It was during a high tide in early January when a tragic incident unfolded on the shores of Mualim Island, located in the Duke of York Islands in the eastern part of Papua New Guinea.A toddler, just a year and a half old, was playing on the beach with other children when the waves grew stronger and swept the child into the sea. A woman walking along the shore saw the child floating in the water and let out a desperate scream for help.The child's mother rushed into the water and pulled the baby out in a desperate attempt to save the boy’s life. In a moment of panic, she handed the baby to a nearby man, who held the child upside down in an attempt to expel the water out of the child’s body—a common but dangerous misconception on the island.Fortunately, not far away, Elizabeth Hensel was at home when she heard the screams and shouting. She ran as fast as she could to the scene.“I told the man to lay the baby down, and quickly checked the pulse, and started CPR,”Elizabeth recalls. “After two rounds of chest compression, the baby regained consciousness and spat out all the water.”“I advised the mother to take the child to the health centre for observation. Today, the baby is alive and well.”Training to the testA mother of six, Elizabeth had recently participated in a Community-Based First Aid training conducted by the Papua New Guinea Red Cross Society (PNG Red Cross).The trainings were done as part of a project that focuses on locally led adaptation to climate change as well asensuring everyone in the community is included and fully protected. The project is funded by the Japanese Red Cross Society through the IFRC’s Papua New Guinea country delegation.This training didn’t just equip Elizabeth with skills—it empowered her to save lives and promote health and safety in her Island village. Elizabeth is one of 37 people who recently participated in the training.Climate change: a growing threatElizabeth’s story is also a stark reminder of the challenges her community faces. Rising sea levels are swallowing their island, inch by inch.“The sea is moving inward, and the island is becoming smaller,” Elizabeth explains. “But our population is growing, so the density is increasing. We have nowhere to go because this is our customary land.”This is one reason the Papua New Guinea Red Cross, with support from the IFRC, is carrying out the PNG Locally Led Climate Action Project across five provinces in Papua New Guinea. The project aims to address climate change and promote community-based disaster risk reduction. It also focuses on empoweringwomen and youth through activities that encourage gender equity, food security and environment sustainability.The impacts of climate change are felt daily. Families in the island now pay 10 kin (2.15 Swiss francs) monthly to rent land on the main island for backyard gardening, as their own land is shrinking in size, leaving no space for planting food crops.Children risk their lives canoeing to school on neighboring islands, battling rising tides and unpredictable weather. “When the sea levels rise, it becomes harder and riskier for our children to commute,” Elizabeth says. “We are trapped between the sea and the sky.”Promoting community health and safetyElizabeth’s Health and first aid skills have made her an advocate in her island community motivated by struggles of the past. She now educates other mothers on the importance of never leaving children unattended.“Before we received the training, we lost three babies while trying to refer them to the nearest hospital,” she shares. “It takes 45 minutes by dinghy or 1-2 hours by canoe. Now, we can save lives immediately. We regret not having this knowledge sooner.”The training also covered childbirth, a critical skill in a community where 2-3 babies are born each month. “Before, mothers would struggle to deliver babies as the nearest health centre is on another nearby island,” Elizabeth explains. “Now, we have the knowledge to help deliver babies safely here if we are not able to go to the health centre on time.”Elizabeth’s story is a powerful reminder of the importance of locally led climate adaptation and building resilience in isolated communities. “We would like to undergo similar trainings in the future, especially on climate change and PGI,” she says. “Refresher trainings would also help us retain and expand on what we have learned.”Story and photo by Bradley Asa, communications and dissemination officer for the Papua New Guinea Red Cross Society.Learn more about first aid throughout the IFRC network.Learn more about the IFRC's approach to community health

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23/09/2024 |

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Mpox: Saving lives by bringing the mpox message directly to the people

Known to some in her community as ‘Mama Eyenga’, Eyenga Bamboko is one of many volunteers in the Democratic Republic of the Congo who are leading the fight against mpox in their local communities.Interviewed in the Lingala language in her home city of Mbandaka, she talks about the work volunteers have been doing to protect people from infection and prevent unnecessary deaths among those who do get ill.“My name is Eyenga Bamboko and I'm a first aider and I've been with the Red Cross movement for nearly two years.Colleagues from Kinshasa came to train us as part of CP3 [Community Epidemic and Pandemic Preparedness Programme] so that we could go out into the field and raise people’s awareness on mpox, even before the disease had spread. We were trained intensively on the disease before it even existed in the region.And then mpox arrived. We observed a few cases. We reported these suspected cases to the provincial health authorities. We told them that we had observed cases as we had been trained. They took them to hospital.But the problem was that, in the beginning, we lost a lot of people. Because many people didn't want to believe in this illness. Some thought it was witchcraft, others said it was a curse or traditional illness.A lot of people died because they didn't go to hospital, they went to see the witchdoctors instead. By the time they did get to hospital, it was often too late. We found that those who went to hospital straight away were cured. But those who arrived late were the ones who succumbed to the disease.'I'm going to tell Mama Eyenga’We tried to help the stronger ones recover and we started to raise awareness in the community. Now many people have started going to hospital. They come to see us to say ‘Mama Eyenga, what you said the other day [about mpox], we have seen.’ Sometimes we go and we see that it is exactly that [a suspected mpox case].We ask people to go to hospital, telling them that they will be looked after free of charge, so that we can protect the rest of the family in the home before they too became infected. They are really starting to understand.We're encountering a lot of difficulties in the field. Many people still don't want to believe in this disease. And you can see that a lot of hospitals are overwhelmed at the moment. But we're not going to stop raising awareness.In my own home, I've seen a real change. Especially when it comes to hand washing. When my grandchildren want to play or eat they make their brothers and sisters aware and they say ‘if you don't wash your hands, I'm going to tell Mama Eyenga’. Even at school, they also raise awareness among their friends and classmates.At first, my husband and children didn’t agree with me volunteering. They thought I worked too much and there’s a risk of me getting sick. But now they don’t ask any more questions because they’ve understood that I am helping the community.”Read more about mpox and the IFRC network’s response:What is mpox? Your questions answeredIFRC’s regional mpox emergency appealRed Cross mpox response in the Republic of CongoProfile of Red Cross volunteer Helene: 'I have no choice but to go and try to save lives.'

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14/09/2024 |

Article

For the Dominican Red Cross every day is first aid day

When Walexi Castillo Reyes was a young volunteer at the age of 18, he responded to an emergency on a crowded beach in the Dominican Republic.A man in severe respiratory distress needed urgent help. Luckily, Castillo had recently completed a first aid training, so he was able to administer oxygen and emergency medication. He was able to stabilise the patient and get him to hospital. Years later, the man recognised him in a public place and approached him to thank him for saving his life and to tell him that he had joined the Red Cross in his community. This is just one of the stories that reflect the transformative power of first aid, not only in saving lives, but in creating connections that spread the principle of humanity. National Training Centre The "Centro Nacional de Capacitación Doctora Ligia Leroux de Ramírez", named in honour of a medical and humanitarian figure in the Dominican Republic, is the heart of first aid training in the country. For the past five years, Castillo has directed the school, combining his experience as an emergency physician with more than three decades as a member of the Red Cross. This initiative has allowed the Dominican Red Cross to multiply its reach and capacity to save lives throughout the Dominican Republic.It offers a full range of courses, from basic first aid (BAP), basic life support (BLS) and pediatric first aid (PAP) to advanced technical training in pre-hospital care, water rescue, risk management and other disciplines.Joining forces to multiply the impactThe centre offers both internal and external training. Internal training is aimed at staff and volunteers from all Red Cross branches throughout the country. External training is offered to companies, mainly in the tourism sector. "At the moment, the centre gives up to ten courses a month, both internally and externally (...) We recently had our first meeting with more than 50 instructors in the different disciplines we work in," says Castillo.First aid training is not limited to the classroom. The Red Cross also manages the national 9-1-1 emergency service, so training staff and volunteers in the branches is crucial to ensuring a fast and effective local response."In September, which is First Aid Month, we go to the media to provide basic first aid information and show the community how to activate the 9-1-1 emergency system". The centre has also established important partnerships with public institutions such as the National Institute of Technical and Vocational Education (INFOTEP), the National Institute of Teacher Training and Education (INAFOCAM) and the National Institute of Integrated Childcare (INAIPI). In collaboration with INFOTEP, the centre offers the Emergency Medical Technician course. There are currently 50 students in training.The partnership with INAFOCAM has enabled all INAIPI staff to be trained in pediatric first aid."We created a pediatric first aid manual to train all INAIPI staff. It was a wonderful experience. We saw that the course was very satisfactory for all the people who took part, and for the Dominican Red Cross it is a very important achievement", said the centre's director. Innovative facilities and resourcesMedicine and emergency techniques are constantly evolving. The National Training Centre is committed to keeping its training programmes up to date with the latest practices and technologies. The centre is equipped with modern facilities, including classrooms, laboratories and a recently opened advanced simulation centre. These resources enable effective hands-on training with simulators for techniques such as intubation, tracheotomy and basic electrocardiogram, among others. "Our goal is to be a leading first aid and pre-hospital care centre that trains all volunteers in the Caribbean," concluded the doctor.The impact of first aid training goes beyond the immediate response to an emergency. The knowledge and skills acquired in these courses can save lives and also increase the ability to act in critical situations.As the story of Dr Castillo Reyes - and the Dominican Red Cross First Aid Training Centre - shows, every person trained in first aid has the potential to save lives and pass that knowledge on to those around them. This creates a powerful multiplier effect, making the whole community stronger and safer.Read more about the IFRC's approach to first aid:First Aid in the IFRC NetworkGlobal First Aid Reference Centre

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13/09/2024 |

Article

World First Aid Day: Cameroon Red Cross volunteers teach life-saving techniques to a new generation

For the past six years, the Cameroon Red Cross (CRC) has put its commitment to young people into action by imbuing them from an early age with basic first-aid techniques, raising awareness at an early age about how to respond in emergency situations.This year, more than 150 children and teenagers benefited from these hands-on first-aid sessions, which are designed to instill knowledge and inspire the confidence needed for young people to act in the face of a crisis.One of those children was Mathis, aged 10. “It was so enriching,”he says. “I learned a lot about first aid. Thank you to the Red Cross and to my parents for enrolling me”.During a course of sessions that lasted two months, Mathis learned simple but essential first-aid techniques that he could use in the event of a domestic accident, a fall, or a medical emergency.Unlike traditional first-aid training, which often includes technical or medical information, these sessions aim to anchor knowledge and instil reflexes in a way that is adapted to young people and can be built as the child grows. The aim is to familiarize them with first-aid techniques without overloading them with technical information.This pedagogical approach enables children to understand and retain essential gestures such as the lateral safety position, cardiopulmonary resuscitation and stopping a hemorrhage (see the pictures above). In a country where domestic accidents, natural disasters and everyday incidents are commonplace, knowing how to react quickly can make all the difference.And even if the young people are not trained to intervene in a professional manner, this approach gives them a solid basis for acting appropriately before help arrives.Simple gestures for critical situationsAt the heart of the programme, young participants are taught several essential skills. These include emergency extrication, the Heimlich method for choking, cardiopulmonary resuscitation and haemorrhage management. These gestures, although they may seem simple, are of crucial importance when an emergency arises.“Our learning methods combine fun and seriousness to keep children captivated,” says André Nicolas, head of the Red Cross youth service. “They pay attention and take the lessons seriously. We very often receive feedback from parents explaining that the children proudly show them what they have learnt with us."The fun aspect of these sessions is essential to capture the attention of the youngest children while teaching them skills that could one day save lives.”Building a more resilient society Teaching first-aid to young people is also part of a long-term vision.“In addition to this initiative, we have set up Red Cross brigades in schools, secondary schools and even colleges, so that the youngest children are equipped and ready to perform first aid when the need arises,”explains Mr Ayissi, National Director of Disaster Management at the CRC.“By familiarizing children with life-saving techniques from an early age, we know that we are whetting their appetite for first aid”, and the Cameroon Red Cross is helping to build a more resilient and supportive society, he says.Every young person trained in first aid, therefore, becomes an essential link in the chain of intervention in the event of a crisis. This approach not only helps to raise children's awareness, but also has a positive influence on those around them, particularly their families and friends. By sharing what they learn, young people help to spread the culture of first aid within their community.Learn more about the IFRC's approach to first aid:First aid in the IFRC networkIFRC Global First Aid Centre

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13/06/2024 |

Article

World Blood Donor Day: He used to ‘run from giving blood’ due to a severe phobia of needles. Now he’s a champion of blood donorship.

For 43-year-old Ademola Gaffar, birthdays have always been more about giving than receiving. Every year, he marks his birthday by giving something incredibly valuable — his blood.At his latest birthday, on 2 March, he made his 50th blood donation and, at the same time, he encouraged 50 other people to do the same. He called it “Project 50/50: Blood.”Known as “coordinator emeritus” at the Lagos State Branch of the Nigerian Red Cross, due to his long work as a youth coordinator, he became a Red Cross volunteer in secondary school. As a first-aid volunteer and trainer, he saw firsthand why blood is so critical during emergencies.For a long time, however, he was afraid of giving blood due to a strong phobia of needles. So how did someone who says he once “ran from giving blood” become one of Nigeria’s biggest blood donorship champions? We decided to ask him why does it, how he beat his phobia and how many more times he expects to again give blood.Question: Why do you do it? What does it mean to you to give blood? Ademola Gaffar: Donating blood can save someone’s life. So it's a pleasure to feel that you can give just some of your blood and it will save another person's life.I guess one never knows how many lives, or whose livees, one might save?Actually, a unit of blood has the capacity of saving three lives. For me, It’s very satisfying to be part of a humanitarian network that has saved so many people's lives.Have you seen firsthand how people need blood during emergencies?From secondary school days, I was trained on first aid and I have trained many young people on first-aid. Anytime there is an emergency, we see how people lose blood then they are involved in accidents.Apart from giving first aid and taking people to the hospital, you can see the need for blood to survive what they’re going through. This is why I also mobilize young volunteers to also give blood.So you’ve given blood 50 times, yes?Initially, my target was to donate 25 times, and later, I had this lifetime target of donating 50 times. On the 2nd of March this year, I made my 50th donation and on that very day, I was able to also mobilize and encourage 50 young people to donate.How did you do it?Through social media, with my Facebook page, my Instagram page, WhatsApp. And since then, I donated one more time. So I’ve actually donated blood 51 times now.How far will you go? Are you going for 100?Well, I still feel strong. And I believe that my my system is okay with it. The Lagos State blood transmission service and other transition service, always checked your health status and see if you are fit to donate. So as long as I am capable to donate, I will.When was your first blood donation? My first blood generation was in 2008. Before then I actually ran away from donating blood, because of a phobia of needles.But then in college, because of what I read about blood donation, I learned that not only does blood donation save lives, it can actually be good for you. I can be good for your cardiovascular health. And I was then the state coordinator for the youth wing of the Lagos State Branch of the Nigeria Red Cross and I had a programme where I needed to encourage young people to join in blood donation. So I had to start leading by example.How did you deal with the phobia? Do you still have a fear of the needle?I told myself that I needed the courage, because what I want to do is more important than the phobia. Now I help other young people to break the phobia. In youth cams, for example, we do sensitization for blood donation. I will be giving blood, and the needle is going into my skin, there’s blood coming out, and I am full of smiles. That way, young peoplresee that and they say ‘Oh, I can do that’ and they join.ResourcesLearn more about blood donation services offered by Red Cross and Red Cresceent National Societies.

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08/05/2024 |

Article

In the hills along the border, Lupita brings water, first-aid and a big dose of humanity

In the city of Nogales, in the northern Mexican state of Sonora, just about everyone knows Rosa Guadalupe Gonzalez Bucio.Health personnel, local authorities, consular representatives, social organizations, local merchants – everyone knows this smart, determined, red-clad woman who drives an all-terrain vehicle through the streets and remote dirt paths in and around Nogales.“Lupita,” as she is affectionately known, is an emergency medical technician, the focal point of the Mexican Red Cross's humanitarian aid for vulnerable migrants on the Mexican side of Nogales, a city that straddles the United States and Mexican border.Every day, Lupita is out there, on her little Red Cross buggy, looking for people who are lost, dehydrated or who have been injured after trying to climb the wall that divides the two countries.For many migrants, Mexico is the last step in the journey that people from all over the world undertake to reach the United States. In 2023 alone, there were more than 2.4 million attempts to cross the border between the two countries, which the United Nations called the world's deadliest land migration route.In 2023, at least 686 migrants lost their lives on this route and almost half of them did so trying to cross arid landscapes such as the Sonoran Desert, the one Lupita drives through every day.Tragic stories on an unforgiving journey“Every day of the year we go out in the racer to look for migrants who need help,” Lupita says. “Although there are even more arid areas, here in Nogales during the summer, the temperatures are extreme. Heat stroke, dehydration and animal bites are common. But in the winter, the desert is also a deadly threat”.It was precisely one freezing night 15 years ago when Lupita experienced a story that marked her forever. A woman walking with her young daughter in the desert fell and was immobilized. The group she was walking with called 911 for help and continued on their way. By the time U.S. and Mexican rescue groups reached her, it was too late. She had died.The girl survived, protected by her mother's embrace. But since there were no shelters in the area intended for this type of case, the girl remained in the custody of the Red Cross until the authorities found her family.Today, in Nogales, there are dozens of centers that each year receive thousands of migrants and asylum seekers from countries in the Americas, Europe and Asia, as well as from Mexico itself.“We have been providing humanitarian aid to vulnerable people in transit for some 20 years and their stories and needs continue to move me as they did on the first day,” says Lupita.“No matter where they come from, most are fleeing a difficult life and face an uncertain, dangerous path with no access to essential services. That's why, even if it seems little, we go out in the racer to look for them. That's why, even if it seems little, we leave water for them at the altars they build in the desert.”And that is why, although sometimes the needs of the vulnerable migrant population seem unmanageable, the Mexican Red Cross offers them basic medical attention, pre-hospital care, psychosocial support and services that help them reestablish contact with their families.The Red Cross offers these services throughout the country, from border to border, thanks to its network of humanitarian service points and thousands of volunteers who, with their commitment, keep humanity alive.

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29/04/2024 |

Article

Tajikistan: From landslides to landmines, partnership helps keep people safe and healthy

Three kilometres from the Changal village school in Tajikistan lies a minefield.As the summer holidays approach, chemistry teacher Saida Meliboeva and other Tajikistan Red Crescent volunteers warn children to stay away from the danger zone in the border area between Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.However, cattle are moving into the minefield and children and herding animals are in danger.No one knows exactly where the mines are, as they are not marked on the map. Frequent mudslides and floods move the mines to unpredictable locations.Information shared by the Tajikistan Red Crescent has helped keep children safe and it has been 15 years without any mine accidents.This is just one of the many critical activities supported by a three-yearpartnership between IFRC and the EU issupporting local communities in Tajikistan to effectively anticipate, respond, and recover from the impact of multiple shocks and hazards.Schoolchildren also learn how to act during an earthquake and other disasters and everyday accidents. In a preparedness exercise organised by the Tajikistan Red Crescent, students learned how to leave classrooms quickly and give first aid to the injured."Our teacher told us what to do in case of a mudslide or an earthquake, or what to do if someone breaks a bone or you need to give first aid," says Manija, a student from Panjakent in Tajikistan."If there is an earthquake, we find a place where there are no houses and sit there. We have to staybrave and calm and go out without rushing."Tajikistan Red Crescent volunteer Azambek Dusyorov still remembers what the mudslide approaching his home in Panjakent, looked like. Spotting the mass of earth falling from the mountains, Azambek told his friends and family of the danger and ran for safety up the hill. Fortunately, the house remained standing.Since then, Azambek and other Red Crescent volunteers have planted trees in the yard, the roots of which help keep the earth masses in place. A wide track has been cut into the hillside, allowing the mudslides to descend into the valley without destroying homes and crops.When clashes intensified along the border between Tajikistan and Kyrgystan, Red Crescent volunteerAbdurahmon Sultanbegan visiting homes in the region to make sure people know how to take care of themselves and their neighbors in case of an injury.One of the homes he visited was that ofMashkhura Hamroboeva, in Khistevarz jamoat at Khujand.Since then, meetings have continued, and discussions have revolved around everyday topics."We meet 2–3 times a month. We talk about everything from how to prevent frostbite in winter to how to avoid infectious diseases," says 17-year-old Abdurahmon.It didn’t take long for Abdurahmon's advice to come in handy. When Mashkhura's three-year-old son accidentally spilled a hot cup of tea on himself, Mashkhura remembered what Abdurahmon had told her.Traditionally, a burn had been treated with a cut potato, but this time Mashkhura dipped the child'shand in cool water.There are just some of the Tajikistan Red Crescent actions (supported by the Programmatic Partnership) that help people and communities prevent future catastrophies and take care of themselves during crises they weren’t able to prevent.TheProgrammatic Partnership between the IFRC network and the European Union, provides strategic, flexible, long-term and predictable funding, so that National Societies can act before an emergency occurs. It is being implemented in 24 countries around the world.

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18/04/2024 |

Article

Gaza: A family of volunteers, helping others while they themselves cope with the hard realities of conflict

“I wake up early at seven in the morning to attend to the family's needs, then head to the nearby market, which is one kilometer away. I search for something to feed my hungry children.”This is how a typical day starts for Youssef Khoder, a Palestine Red Crescent volunteer from northern Gaza. Youssef comes from a family of volunteers. His mother is an obstetrics nurse, his brother Mahmoud and Ibrahim are also both nurses.“We have been working at the PRCS medical point in Jabalia since its establishment,” he says. “We were displaced and had to move to a shelter center, but now the situation has changed, and we have returned to our homes.”After getting food at the market, Youssef and his wife start a fire to prepare food for their young children. The eldest daughter, Ayloul, is 6 years old. Mohammed is 4, and Ghaith is 2. Then Youssef is off to meet his brothers at the medical point in Jabalia.“We walk 2 kilometers back and forth every day to reach the medical point where we volunteer,” he says. “We carry out our work because it is our humanitarian duty, continuing to serve our people in northern Gaza.”A vital point for community health amid conflictThe medical point consists of a large tent, inside which there are about a dozen rolling hospital gurneys or beds. The medical post in Jabalia, in the Northern Gaza Strip, has remained operational and provided medical and health services to thousands of affected people even when key hospitals went out of service; it continues to provide services despite the shortage of medicine.While his brothers attend to patients, Youssef takes photos as part of his responsibilities documenting the work of his Palestine Red Crescent colleagues. This is important role in documenting the humanitarian needs as well as the reporting to the world what the Red Crescent is doing to try and address those needs.This is not as easy as it may seem. With power outages and damaged communications infrastructure, the simple act of sending the photographs to headquarters is not so simple."After the afternoon prayer, I walk one kilometer to a high-altitude location so I can catch a signal and gain internet access. I spend half an hour sending files to the administration before returning to the medical point. We spend an hour with colleagues before heading back, sometimes stopping by the market to get some food for suhoor and for the next day. However, food is scarce and the prices are very high."During Ramadan, all this was done while fasting from sun up to sun down. After work, they would return home before breaking their fast (iftar). "My family and I sit together. I break my fast with them, pray the Maghrib prayer, have tea, and then return to the medical point on foot. I work for a few hours before coming home late.Concerning food scarcity, it’s like we have been fasting for 6 months, so it’s not just during Ramadan.We continue to work with even greater determination than before, and we pray that we remain able to serve the people, and that Gaza’s dark days will soon pass.”

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11/12/2023 |

Article

Israel: Magen David Adom ambulance crews bring critical life-saving care despite the dangers

As sirens blare over the surrounding neighbourhood — alerting people about incoming rockets — a paramedic with the Magen David Adom (MDA) lies flat on the ground, shielding herself in case a missile should land nearby. “This is what we have to do when sirens go off and we're not in a building,” says Dani, a paramedic with an MDA ambulance team. “We just have to lie on the ground and cover our heads.” “I'm grateful that while I'm on shift I have a helmet and a vest to protect me but it's still terrifying,” she says. “It's so much scarier than I could have imagined. Despite this fear, I'm not going to let anything stop me or the MDA teams from getting to people in need.” Since the escalation of hostilities on October 7, numerous MDA staff members, including several ambulance team members, have been killed in the line of duty — and many more have been injured. In addition, the MDA has also incurred losses of medical equipment, including numerous ambulances, ruined due to incoming fire. The sound of sirens, flying rockets and nearby explosions are something many MDA paramedics know all too well. And they are well aware of the dangers they represent. ‘The helicopter started spinning’ A paramedic who works with a MDA helicopter unit, Shafir Botner recalls a harrowing moment during that already horrific day when his crew narrowly escaped death. It happened while they were transporting three critically wounded people from a place where fighting was still going on. “We were told there were three critically wounded people on the ground and that we must take them or they wouldn’t survive,” he recalls. The crew landed, worked quickly to stabilize the patients, brought the wounded on board and were preparing to take off when suddenly there was a loud explosion. “Rockets kept flying overhead,” he said. “Within ten seconds I heard a massive explosion. I was sure we were hit by a rocket. And in a split second the helicopter started spinning in all directions. I was able to hold on and scream into the radio that we were hit.” “Later I found out that debris had hit our rotors and the helicopter lost its balance. If not for our incredible pilots, I wouldn’t be here today.” The sound of falling rockets The continuing threat of rocket fire and other potential attacks take a heavy emotional toll on paramedic teams as well. After all, they’ve seen many times what the weapons of war can do. Talal Abu Jameh, a senior emergency medical technician at the MDA, recalls an episode on the first day of the war that has left an indelible mark on his heart and mind. "I was standing at the [MDA] station, when I suddenly heard a very loud boom and saw black smoke,” says Talal, who is Muslim and lives with his family in a Bedwin community in the Negev. “I drove there quickly and on the way my son called me,” he recalls. “I heard a lot of shouting in the background, I heard him say "he's dead, he's dead". I got there and proceeded on foot. The family was there. I saw my cousin, only four years old, lying unconscious on the floor. “It was clear to me that he was very seriously injured, I evacuated him in an ambulance to the hospital, where unfortunately he was pronounced dead. Then I realized there was no choice and even though everyone in my family was traumatized by the incident, I knew I had to be part of the team. And so I went back to work.” ‘They’ve given their all’ MDA has been supporting affected communities since the beginning, with ambulance and medical services on call 24/7. A total of 1,500 ambulances and 10,000 first responders (EMTs and paramedics) have been mobilized. Since 7 October, they have treated over 4.000 patients. “The volunteers and staff of Magen David Adom have been given it their all in the past weeks. Despite the many dangers, they did everything in their power to save lives, “ says Birgitte Bischoff Ebbesen, regional director at IFRC for Europe and Central Asia. “This despite the fact that the conflict has affected many MDA-members personally. They have lost friends, family members and coworkers due to the violence, and their stories are heartbreaking. Regardless of their own sorrows and hardship, many MDA-members have found space in their hearts to continue helping others. This is truly remarkable and inspiring.”

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30/06/2023 |

Article

Transforming lives behind bars in Mexico

Incarceration can be a bleak and isolating experience. But a new project by the Mexican Red Cross is providing detainees a unique opportunity to make a positive impact and find new meaning even within the prison walls. “There aren’t many groups you can join here to help others” says Julian Gonzalez Moreno, one of the project’s participants who has spent 18 years in prison. “So, this is one of the few where you can really help someone.” Sometimes that even means saving someone’s life. Participants in the programme recently recounted an incident where they successfully resuscitated a person who was suffering a heart attack – just eight days after receiving an updated CPR course. The training is part of the Community Health and First Aid project that is being implemented various penitentiary centres across Mexico City by the Mexican Red Cross. By providing training and workshops on first aid, civil protection, and psychosocial support, the project equips prisoners with life-saving skills and empowers them to become first responders inside detention centres. The programme challenges preconceived notions and helps reshape public perceptions towards prisoners. “The programme has also been beneficial in addressing the social stigma they might face,” says Jesus Enrique, a Mexican Red Cross volunteer and participant in the SPAC project who lives in Mexico City. “For us, it is important to share relevant information, and for the rest of the community inside the prison to see that they are trusted when it comes to providing first aid or helping others.” Equipping inmates with life-saving skills Raquel Jaimes, with 14 years of incarceration, expresses her gratitude for the training she has received. “Today, I know how to place a bandage on a wound, and I can do CPR. The Mexican Red Cross has taught me how to provide first aid”, she says. “I can now teach this to my children and to my grandchildren.” The project not only imparts practical skills but also fosters a sense of confidence and self-reliance, project leaders say. Detainees learn to handle emergency situations such as heart attacks, injuries and accidents, ensuring that they are well-prepared to respond swiftly and effectively. For women’s prisons, the SPAC programme provides specific first-aid courses for new-born babies, given that mothers in prisons are allowed to live with their children when they are up to 3 years and 8 months old. Saving lives and fostering change The SPAC training extends beyond individual skill-building. It cultivates a collective sense of responsibility and compassion among inmates, inspiring a shift in mindset, according to inmate Julian Gonzalez Moreno. “When people realize that you care about them, without any self-interest, they start doing the same with others, and you create a domino effect,” he says. -- This story was produced and originally published by the Red Cross Red Crescent Magazine. To learn about the Magazine, and to read more stories like this,click here.

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01/05/2023 |

Article

"Lucky boy": Mother reunites with Myanmar Red Cross health worker who saved her baby's life

The two women in the back of the ambulance held each other’s hands tightly as the vehicle rushed through the night on the rough road to Than Phyu Zayat, Myanmar. Late in the afternoon, the Myanmar Red Cross ambulance crew had collected a young pregnant woman from her home in Kyaik Kha Me Township, taking her to the local hospital as her contractions intensified. But with no doctor available they were directed to the regional hospital some 70 kilometers away. With the baby in a breech position, it was going to be a difficult delivery for the 27-year-old first time mother, Moe Thuzar. Public services had been drastically disrupted following the military intervention of February 2021. The combination of the political crisis and COVID-19 had put healthcare services – including maternal and new-born health – under severe strain. Recently divorced and living with her widowed mother, Moe worked late into the pregnancy doing “Kya” jobs (random tasks at people’s houses) to make ends meet, and was often forced to skip meals as food prices increased sharply. That afternoon when her contractions began, a Myanmar Red Cross volunteer in the neighbourhood took her to the local hospital. When they found there was no doctor there, a call for help was sent to take Moe to the next town. As night was falling, Myanmar Red Cross ambulance volunteer Thi Thi Mon received the emergency call to transport the young expectant mother. As a Red Cross veteran of 25 years, Thi Thi Mon quickly jumped into an ambulance to collect Moe from the local hospital. The team rushed to the regional hospital but the doctor there didn’t have the facilities to deliver the baby, which was now blocking the birth canal. He urged the ambulance to drive to Than Phyu Zayat township, Mon State. But, halfway between hospitals, Moe Thu Zar said that she could not cope anymore and begged Thi Thi Mon to help. The former midwife made the choice to deliver the baby there and then. The baby was born in the back of the ambulance, his umbilical cord wrapped dangerously around his neck, but breathing. “The baby did not make any sound at first, so I had to shake him a little before he cried out loud,” Thi Thi Mon recalls. The team resumed their journey at top speed reaching the hospital in Than Phyu Zayat township in ten minutes. They provided oxygen to the baby and transferred the mother and child to a state hospital for intensive care. “She named my boy as “Maung Kan Kaung” (Burmese translation: Lucky boy). I am grateful towards the Red Cross members who helped us. We are alive only because of them,” says Moe Thuzar. “Since I was a child, I loved one of the Red Cross’ seven fundamental principles: humanity” “I will never forget this memorable night. I believe if everyone gets First Aid training like I did, there will be fewer helpless people, ” says Thi Thi Mon. -- From February 2021 to December 2022, Myanmar Red Cross First Aid teams have helped with the referral of around 12,833 patients. The ambulance service has helped more than 300 pregnant women and newborn babies to access emergency treatment. In areas where local communities lack access to medical facilities, the Red Cross has established First Aid Posts and community clinics where volunteer doctors and medical staff provide basic healthcare. These volunteers keep the spirit of humanity alive. -- To read a longer version of this story, click here.

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06/11/2021 |

Press release

Sierra Leone Red Cross and IFRC respond to oil tank explosion tragedy

Freetown, Nairobi, 6 November 2021—Sierra Leone Red Cross teams are providing ambulance services; first aid and psychosocial support following a fire incident that killed nearly 100 on Friday night. To support Sierra Leone Red Cross teams to step up its emergency response, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is in the process of releasing money from its Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF). The number of affected people and the gruesome nature of the disaster have posed challenges to response teams. Kpawuru E. T. Sandy, Sierra Leone Red Cross Society’s Secretary General currently, said: “The main hospital is overwhelmed, and families are struggling to identify their loved ones who were burnt or killed as bodies are badly charred.” Sierra Leone has been hit by frequent disasters in recent years, including floods, epidemics, and fire incidents. Mohammed Mukhier, IFRC’s Regional Director for Africa said: “This is a heart-breaking incident, for a country where memories of the 2017 tragic mudslides and the 2014-2016 Ebola outbreak are still fresh. Over 100 patients are now being taken care of at different hospitals in Freetown.” Sierra Leone Red Cross teams have responded to other major disasters in the past with the latest being the Susan’s Bay fire incident in March. The disaster left at least 7,000 homeless. Sierra Leone Red Cross responded by providing first aid and ambulance services, and IFRC released nearly 300,000 Swiss francs from its DREF to scale up the response operation. Sierra Leone Red Cross teams have also responded to the August 2017 mudslides that killed over 1000 people; and the 2014-2016 Ebola outbreak that killed nearly 4000 people. Through its 18,000 volunteers across the country, Sierra Leone Red Cross continues to play a leading role as a first responder to disasters and as a provider of primary health care. For more information or to request an interview, please contact: In Freetown Swaray Lengor, +232 79 236196; [email protected] Dr Ghulam Muhammad AWAN, +232 78 811 584; [email protected] Camara Yusuf; +23279492611; [email protected] In Nairobi Euloge Ishimwe, +254 731 688 613, [email protected]

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12/03/2021 |

Basic page

First aid

The IFRC and our 191 Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies are the world’s leading providers and trainers in first aid. Together, we trained more than 12.4 million people in first aid in 2022—empowering them with the skills to save lives.

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11/12/2020 |

Article

Iran Red Crescent volunteer saves a two-month-old baby with his first aid skills

Morteza Beigi, the Iranian Red Cross first aid volunteer, recovered a two-month-old baby back to life and became a hero. “I am used to check vital signs of every corpse brought to the cemetery to be washed and prepared for burial. This time, when the body of a two-month-old baby was brought to me, I remembered my two little daughters whom I love very much. I checked the baby's breathing putting my head on his chest and listened. I found out he was still breathing. The baby was alive!” The baby had been transferred to Abdanan city for the funeral. “It was around afternoon when my phone rang and I was asked to wash a dead body of a small baby. I left home to the cemetery. The body of a baby was wrapped in a white and blue blanket. While his family was taking off his clothes, I suddenly looked at his chest. It seemed it was moving,” he continues. Earlier on the day, the medical doctors had diagnosed the cause of death as Congenital insufficiency. Before working at the cemetery, Morteza, 31, used to be a plaster worker. He is also studying law atuniversity while he is working hard for his family. “I had passed the Red Crescent first aid course in the provincial branch many years ago and knew first aid and CPR. The family of the baby was crying and I could not hear his breathing so I put my head on his chest. He was not dead.” The family was told the baby was declared dead already in the morning. “I remembered my two little beloved daughters as well as all the dead bodies brought here recently because of COVID-19. I felt with my blood and flesh how hard it is to lose our loved ones. I consider all human beings to be my loved ones.” After finding out the baby was still alive, Morteza kept him warm with a blanket and started Cardiac massage together with CPR. He continued for ten minutes until the baby started to breathe properly again. Then he called the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) to get further help. This time the story had a happy ending butMorteza tells he has faced also the grim effects of COVID-19 while washing the bodies. He has seen what it does to the people, and since the spring, he has been infected by COVID-19 already twice. Despite that, he says he keeps his mind positive. Every year Iranian Red Crescent Society organizes different trainings from first aid to urban relief and rescue. This year due to the coronavirus pandemic, the organization moved most of the trainings online.

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09/04/2020 |

Article

Empress Shôken Fund announces grants for 2020

The Fund The Empress Shôken Fund is named after Her Majesty the Empress of Japan, who proposed – at the 9th International Conference of the Red Cross – the creation of an international fund to promote relief work in peacetime. It is administered by the Joint Commission of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and the International Committee of the Red Cross, which maintains close contact with the Japanese Permanent Mission in Geneva, the Japanese Red Cross Society and the Meiji Jingu Research Institute in Japan. The Fund has a total value of over 16 million Swiss francs and supports projects run by National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies to benefit their communities in various ways. The first grant was awarded in 1921, to help five European National Societies fight the spread of tuberculosis. The Fund has assisted more than 160 National Societies thus far. The imperial family, the Japanese government, the Japanese Red Cross and the Japanese people revere the memory of Her Majesty Empress Shôken, and their enduring regard for the Fund is shown by the regularity of their contributions to it. The grants are usually announced every year on 11 April, the anniversary of her death. This year the announcement is being published earlier owing to the Easter holidays. The selection process The Empress Shôken Fund received 36 applications in 2020, covering a diverse range of humanitarian projects run by National Societies in every region of the world. This year the Joint Commission agreed to allocate a total of 400,160 Swiss francs to 14 projects in Argentina, Bulgaria, Greece, Iraq, Lithuania, Montenegro, Namibia, Palestine, Panama, Sierra Leone, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, and Uganda. The projects to be supported in 2020 cover a number of themes, including first aid, youth engagement and disaster preparedness. Moreover, nearly all of the selected projects seek to strengthen the volunteer base of National Societies, with a view to building on the unique role played by the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement in communities everywhere. The Fund encourages new and innovative approaches that are geared towards learning, so that the broader Movement can benefit from project findings. The 2020 grants TheArgentine Red Crosshas launched a generational change in its leadership by promoting volunteers’ access to decision-making bodies. It will use the grant to design and build virtual courses, creating new spaces for dialogue and debate. For years, the Bulgarian Red Cross has been a major partner of the State in the field of first aid, helping it to respond effectively in a crisis. The National Society will use the grant to reinforce its leadership position by introducing an online first-aid training platform that will facilitate theoretical learning and increase the number of trained first-aiders. The Hellenic Red Cross seeks to empower local communities in vulnerable or isolated areas. The grant will go towards establishing branch and community disaster teams that will build communities’ resilience through activities and training around disaster risk reduction. In Iraq, late detection of breast cancer is common and makes the disease much deadlier. To save women’s lives, theIraqi Red Crescent Societywill use the grant to train female volunteers who will raise awareness of early detection methods for breast cancer. The Lithuanian Red Cross will put the grant towards an innovative digital platform for evaluating the impact of its first-aid courses, issuing and tracking certifications, and connecting with first-aiders after they complete their training. Young people account for more than 80% of the volunteers of the Red Cross of Montenegro. The National Society will use the grant to improve its activities and services with the aim of strengthening youth participation and raising awareness of volunteer opportunities. As Namibia’s population grows, first-aid skills and services are more in demand than ever before. The grant will enable the Namibia Red Cross to run intensive first-aid training and certification courses in ten schools. To better serve the communities it works with, thePalestine Red Crescent Society seeks to build its staff members’ and volunteers’ capacities. It will use the grant to establish a computer lab as a continuing-education unit for all of its staff and volunteers. In Panama, gang violence has shot up in recent years, and pollution continues to grow owing to a lack of public awareness. The Red Cross Society of Panama will use the grant to develop a series of activities aimed at promoting a culture of peace and environmental responsibility. Blood transfusion services are an essential component of Sierra Leone’s health-care system. The grant will enable the Sierra Leone Red Cross Society to increase access to safe blood products, especially for pregnant woman and infants. In Timor-Leste, 70% of the population is under 30 years old, but accessing information about reproductive health can be difficult, particularly in rural areas. The Timor Leste Red Cross will use the grant for a public-awareness and education campaign for young people on reproductive health. The Tonga Red Cross Society will use the grant to improve students' access to health care and physical activity by using safer vehicles for transportation. The Trinidad and Tobago Red Cross Society is exploring novel approaches to teaching disaster preparedness and increasing public awareness on the subject. The grant will enable the National Society to use virtual-reality technology to teach the public about the reality and impact of disasters. In Uganda, 70% of blood donors are students, so the country faces blood shortages outside term time. The Uganda Red Cross Society will use the grant to develop its online recruitment of adult blood donors so as to counteract any seasonal shortfalls during the holidays.

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13/11/2019 |

Article

Lebanon Protests: Red Cross volunteers continue supporting people in need

Since the nationwide mass protests started in Lebanon, the Lebanese Red Cross teams have been on the ground providing life-saving support to people affected. To date, more than 12,965 people have been assisted. To help the Red Cross to cope with the needs, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) has released over 380,000 Swiss francs from its Disaster Relief Emergency Fund. The Red Cross has a country-wide network of around 12,000 volunteers, and a thousand of them have been mobilized daily all over Lebanon. The Red Cross teams have treated hundreds of people on the site of the protests, while more critical cases have been transported to hospitals. Due to the unrest and road blockages, civilian cars have not been able to reach hospitals in many places. With 165 of its ambulances and other vehicles mobilized, the Red Cross has also provided medical transportation to hospitals to dialysis and cancer patients as well as others in need of urgent treatment. “Since day one of the protests, we have been responding to around 3500 emergencies all over the country in addition to our regular, ongoing services. So far, we have supported around 8000 people affected by the situation. Our volunteers are well known and respected because of their neutrality, impartiality and commitment to serve humanity. We will remain on high alert and continue to support people in need”, says Georges Kettaneh, Lebanese Red Cross Secretary General. The Lebanese Red Cross Blood Transfusion Centres have also scaled up their services. Over one thousand blood units have been provided and distributed to hospitals all over the country.

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03/06/2019 |

Article

The Grenada Red Cross - Saving Lives

Mary Lewis is poised… It’s one of the first things that you notice about her, aside from other obvious physical characteristics like her bright, beautiful smile. That this young, ambitious Grenadian seems ready to handle anything that may come her way should come as no surprise, after learning that she has spent the last eleven years in the hospitality industry. Her easy, self-possessed manner serves her well in her position as Supervisor ay the Blue Horizons Hotel, located in St. George’s, Grenada. It’s a trait that helped her to save the life of a guest of the hotel not too long ago. That and the first aid training provided by the Grenada Red Cross. It was that training and her enviable calm that allowed her to recognise the signs of a stroke when she was called upon to assist a guest who was found unresponsive in the hotel in early 2019. In 2017 or thereabouts Mary, along with other members from varying departments at Blue Horizons, was selected by hotel management to participate in first aid training that was being offered by the Grenada Red Cross. The training which can sometimes be referred to as BLS or basic life saving took place at the offices of the Grenada Red Cross. There the staff members of Blue Horizons learnt CPR, how to deal with a stroke patient, how to use a defibrillator, the signs of a heart attack and how to deal with burns. It was an ordinary evening at the hotel, Mary was following her usual routine preparing for the arrival of guests when she was called upon by her Manager to respond to an emergency. A guest had called and indicated that his wife was unresponsive on the floor of the bathroom. “My heart went down in my toe”, was how she described her initial reaction at having to put into practice all that she learnt because she was concerned about remembering everything. But when she arrived at the room her natural calm took over and she told herself, “you put on your brave hat now”. In fact, it was her presence that allowed the ill guest’s husband to also remain calm and answer Mary’s questions about his wife’s medical history. The couple’s eleven year old son also helped by providing details about their activities that day. Luckily for that family, Mary was able to immediately make a number of observations about the woman’s condition: her inability to move one side of her body, the difficulty she was having speaking and the secretions coming from her mouth. She recalled from her training that she had keep the ill person alert and awake if they are conscious and she did that by talking to her until the ambulance came. Though the ordeal only lasted for forty-five minutes it is probably an experience that none of the parties involved will ever forget. The woman was flown via air ambulance to Miami and her husband sent word back to the hotel that she is doing ‘ok’. “Good Mary, you did very well.” That is what Mary told herself when it sunk in that she saved someone’s life. She is glad and proud of herself that she was able to use the knowledge gained from the training to save the woman’s life. Her Manager is also very happy with her and probably with the investment made in the staff learning life saving techniques. That was not the only person Mary saved, however, as she recently experienced a situation that hit much closer to home. She again put her training to good use and was able to save the life of a family member. Despite them residing in America, more that two thousand miles away, Mary was able to convince her stepmother to go the hospital based on a description given by her father. This description was given to her over the phone but she was still able to recognise the signs and urge them to seek treatment. At the hospital it was determined that her stepmother had indeed had a mild stroke. Now that she has successfully utilised her training on more than one occasion Mary Lewis is confident that she is capable if called to act in an emergency, all thanks to the Grenada Red Cross.

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