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Nick Rondinelli and John Devlin were in their downtown Toronto offices on a spring day in late May, taking care of regular business responsibilities. Rondinelli was at his desk; Devlin was doing some paper work after teaching a first aid course when they heard a collision outside their window. A car and a scooter had collided head-on, propelling the rider several metres into the air. 

Disasters and emergencies can happen any day, which is why Red Cross volunteers are ready to meet urgent needs, even on Christmas Eve. 

The winter season brings many outdoor group and individual activities. Natural water bodies freeze over and become great recreational spaces for hockey, ice-skating and more. There is no such thing as 100 percent safe ice. However, precautions can be taken to reduce the risks.

There’s a good chance that when you think of the Canadian Red Cross, ground-breaking technology isn’t what first comes to mind. Most likely, you’d think of disaster response, humanitarian work, and first aid training; but, now, a new initiative by the Red Cross will make it a key player in the technology industry, when it comes to innovation, software development and data management.

It was late February 2019, in Saskatoon. The night was freezing, and Samantha was standing outside in her shorts. She left behind her phone charger, her medication, and the wheelchair she uses to aid in mobility issues stemming from chronic arthritis. Samantha left it all behind because the fire alarm was blaring, and thick smoke was filling the hallways of her apartment building.
 

If you are celebrating the holidays with gifts, consider giving meaningful gifts that could save a life, or make an emergency situation much more bearable for a loved one or even a stranger.
Whether driving in snowy winter conditions or just being ready for everyday first aid emergencies, here are some gift ideas that will be sure to make an impact with your loved ones.

 “Can you deploy for the Manitoba snowstorms?” The text arrived on Saturday while I was in a crisis management class.  By Monday, I was in the air, flying to Manitoba on my first response with the Canadian Red Cross!

Volunteers and staff from the Bahamas Red Cross have been supporting affected communities since Hurricane Dorian made landfall on September 1 - three months later the work continues.