Is social media transforming the way Canadians respond to emergencies?

As one of Canada's leading charity organizations, the Canadian Red Cross provides assistance to people who are affected by emergencies and disasters and prepares families and communities for emergencies, through education programs.

While the Canadian Red Cross strives to help those in need, the ways in which people themselves are reacting to emergencies has evolved in recent years, primarily through the widespread use of social media.

Social media in Canada
In a recent survey conducted by the research firm Ipsos Reid on behalf of the Canadian Red Cross, researchers revealed the extent to which Canadians access social media and other forms of mobile technology following emergencies.

After collecting data from June 19 to July 4, 2012, the survey found that more than 60 per cent of the 1,000 respondents use social media on a regular basis, while 84 per cent noted that they visited social media sites several times per week.

The leading social networks for Canadians include Facebook - which 97 per cent of participants said they use - as well as YouTube, Twitter, LinkedIn and blogs.

The role of social media during emergencies
Due to the prevalence of mobile devices like cell phones and tablets, many people have the ability to communicate throughout the day with a network of individuals and organizations. When an emergency happens, social media can sometimes be the forum that people turn to instinctively.

The survey showed that 63 per cent of those surveyed felt that emergency staff should be equipped to respond to requests for help made online through social media sites. Even more revealing is the fact that one-third of the participants in the survey believed that emergency responders do in fact respond to requests for help posted online.

Make a difference
Social media may be changing the way that Canadians respond to emergencies and disasters, but the support that people can gain from the Canadian Red Cross in the wake of these incidents has not changed.

The Canadian Red Cross offers a range of services that help people affected by adversity gain much-needed resources and begin the process of rebuilding their lives.

With the support of Canadians like you, the Canadian Red Cross can continue to pursue its humanitarian mission of responding to the needs of individuals impacted by incidents.

To make a difference today, please donate to the Canadian Red Cross online, or visit us at your local Canadian Red Cross office. To learn more about the Canadian Red Cross, follow us on Twitter @redcrosscanada.