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The first post in our What to do series described what to do if someone is experiencing a stroke. When you see someone in distress, it can be a bit overwhelming but it’s important to respond quickly and calmly. The same is said for an emergency involving mental health. In this second post, we’ll take a look at what to do if you see someone having a panic attack

For many Canadians, spring can be a welcome sight. Many of us are yearning to put away our winter boots and shovels, see flowers bloom instead of snow fall, and enjoy warmer weather. Yet with warming climates, spring can also bring an increased risk of flooding. Flooding can be a serious issue for Canadian families so we want to help you prepare for any flooding in your home or community with these resources and tips.

A series of record-breaking downpours in Peru engorged rivers and caused the worst flooding in decades to hit the country.  Almost 800,000 people have been impacted, and over 176,000 houses have been damaged or destroyed.  The waters also triggered landslides which wiped away people, crops, and buildings. The Red Cross is actively scaling up its response to flooding, mudslides and other issues caused by the rains. 

A medical outreach team is a team of four trained healthcare staff headed by a clinical officer and comprised of a nurse, a midwife and a vaccinator. Equipped with motorbikes, medicines, vaccines and basic diagnostic tools, the teams enter communities to provide primary healthcare curative and prevention services to remote populations.

In late February, boreholes were handed over to the Wun-Ajok community in South Sudan. These boreholes are part of a Canadian Red Cross program to improve survival for mothers, children and babies, and are the first sources of water in these areas. 

In early March, we had the great pleasure of hosting Nelly Tangua Tangayani, from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) Red Cross, and Touré Nènè Traoré, from the Mali Red Cross. They spent a week with our Communications team to discuss our respective practices and strengthen their communications capacities.

 “Although women and children have particular vulnerabilities following a disaster, they are also extremely resilient,” says Esmé Lanktree, Program Officer for Emergencies and Recovery for the Canadian Red Cross.

Last June, Catherine Sonpon came home to find her Surrey apartment building surrounded by fire trucks. The rental suite she shared with her young family had been gutted by fire.
“I remember feeling sadness and pain,” said Sonpon. “My family was safe, and material losses are not as important, but I was still sad to lose all our stuff. You never know when you may need help.”