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Communications aid workers do a bunch of things, but their main purpose is to help make sure people have the information they need when disasters or emergencies hit. Recently, a group of future communications aid workers, myself included, got to attend a training session in Ottawa. 

Many refugees and migrants escaping violence and economic hardship due to conflict and instability at home will find themselves in Greece after crossing the Mediterranean by boat. There are approximately 65,000 refugees in Greece, and around 15,000 of those are in camps on the Greek islands. Canadian Pam Riley is currently working there with the Red Cross, she took a moment to update us about the current situation.

In the past week, an already volatile situation in Ukraine escalated as heavy artillery and rocket fire hit residential areas in the eastern part of the country, ending a fragile ceasefire.  The fighting has put already vulnerable civilians at heightened risk, with the Red Cross warning of a deteriorating humanitarian situation. 

Everything the International Red Cross Red Crescent Movement does is guided by our seven fundamental principles; Humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity, and universality. We’re taking a closer look at exactly what these principles mean, and how they govern our actions – today we’re looking at fundamental principle #2: Impartiality.

The wildfires that ravaged many areas of the northern Alberta community last May were an extremely stressful experience for many people. In the first weeks after the evacuation, besides responding to the basic needs of Fort McMurray evacuees, the Red Cross also deployed a Safety and Well Being Team with expertise in Psychological First Aid.
 

Did you know that the Red Cross is governed by seven Fundamental Principles? The first principle is humanity, which can feel a little vague - we're all part of humanity, right? Here's what we mean, and why it is important to the International Red Cross Red Crescent Movement. 

Last spring the Canadian Red Cross welcomed three communications delegates from other Red Cross societies. Degsew Amanu from Ethiopia Red Cross, Marial Mayom Riak from South Sudan Red Cross, and Carlos Romero from Honduras Red Cross, joined staff and volunteers from across Canada to participate in an Emergency Response Unit (ERU) training and learn valuable skills that they could take home with them.

Okay, so I am that person. The one who really can’t handle the gross stuff, the one who covers their eyes during movies until people tell me it’s okay to look again. So naturally the world of first aid is one that gets me a little nervous because it might be icky. And then I had a moment that I realized just how important first aid is.