Top 10 blogs from 2018

With the year winding to an end, we took a look back at some of our most engaging blog posts from 2018. With natural disasters and emergencies occurring across Canada and the world, these blogs reflect the willingness of people to help and some inspiring stories of people wanting to make a difference.

Here are the top 10 blogs from 2018:

The effects of bullying can be experienced by many and anyone; the Canadian Red Cross offers a range of programs that can help empower young people to prevent bullying and have healthy relationships with useful tools and resources.

This blog, from our ‘What to do if’ series, gives some provides 10 tips on what to do if you witness bullying.
 


For International Women’s Day last March, we brought together a collection of stories depicting remarkable women who have made a contribution to Red Cross efforts whether through international aid, volunteering with us or putting our programs, such as bullying and violence prevention, into action.

This popular blog showcases 10 inspiring women who made a difference.
 

First aid has always been a popular topic in our blog. As in all emergencies, there is only time to react so education is powerful in helping to save a life. As always, we encourage you to register for a First Aid course  - even if you are not a parent or caregiver. This blog gives advice on what to do if a baby is choking.
 
This year, people across Canada experienced disasters from flooding to storms and tornadoes. This blog post from May showed how the Canadian Red Cross supported individuals and families affected by flooding in New Brunswick. With flooding significantly impacting Fredericton, Saint John and other communities, we were there registering evacuees, arranging emergency lodging and food for some people (even pets) and mobilizing volunteers, as described in Canadian Red Cross responds to New Brunswick flooding.

Did you know that the Red Cross responds to an average of one disaster every three hours in Canada? Across the country and around the world, our staff and volunteers provide the connection between disaster and relief, from local food banks to first responders to temporary shelters, and more. This blog by Canadian Red Cross President and CEO, Conrad Sauvé, shows how the Red Cross efforts create hundreds of life-changing connections and how you can get involved in Be part of the equation; how Red Cross connects people during crisis.
 
Last summer, Canadian Red Crosser Justine Antoine-Roy, Canadian Red Cross was invited to visit James Smith Cree Nation for its Community Health Fair when an Elder approached her and said “Hello, I have a story and I want you to write it down.”

She did and he was Ivory Wayne Burns, who wanted to express how thankful he is for the services that the Red Cross provided when he needed them most – after his home that he shared with his grandchildren had caught fire. Read what he had to say in Ivory Wayne Burns want to share his story.
 

Summertime in Canada is usually full of water-related activities. With that in mind, the Canadian Red Cross offers programs in swimming and water safety for all ages. With safety tips always a popular topic, this blog discusses why educating children in water safety is as important as road safety for many Canadians. Read about tips and resources available for caregivers of young children when around water in Why I insist my son learn how to swim.
 

As mentioned, Canadians experienced a number of disasters this year, including flooding across the country, wildfires and tornadoes. And in every disaster, Canadians wanted to help in any way they could. We received so many questions from people on how to help those affected by such disasters that this blog was the most popular of September. Thankful for all who supported or donated their time or money, here is the best way to help after a disaster.
 
While first aid is always a popular topic, it’s important to keep in mind that first aid is not just physical in terms of healing sprains, cuts or other injuries. Psychological First Aid training allows individuals to build a self-care plan through understanding and identifying how loss, grief, and stress affect them and in turn how to deal with it - and also explores how they can care for others. That’s why this blog on why you need to learn psychological first aid was a hit among readers.
 

The Canadian Red Cross relies on a network of thousands of volunteers across Canada who generously donate their time to help others in their communities or around the world who are in need. With many Canadians still looking to get involved as a volunteer, this popular blog asks: What type of volunteer are you?
 

Honourable mention:

We have to give a shout-out to a truly engaging story this year: No longer afraid to go to school: how access to sanitary pads changes lives in South Sudan. For many girls in South Sudan, menstruation is not just uncomfortable – it can become a major barrier to stay in school. As part of a pilot project with the Canadian Red Cross, the South Sudan Red Cross provided 120 school girls with reusable sanitary pads and soap.