Community Health 18

During a typical disaster, Red Cross volunteers would check on how someone is coping through a face-to-face visit, however, in keeping with COVID-19 physical distancing requirements, teams are currently doing daily check-ins by phone. In Saskatchewan, volunteers have already made more than 200 wellness check phone calls to people with vulnerabilities being supported in self-isolation.

After returning to Canada following their time aboard The Grand Princess Cruise ship, Linda and her husband Wray, spent 14 days at Canadian Forces Base Trenton in quarantine. Now returned home, Linda took a moment to send a letter sharing her experiences. 

With the Red Cross since 2011, Sam Dueck has deployed as a technician with the Emergency Response Unit (ERU) to far away regions like Jordan, Sierra Leone, and Ecuador. His latest posting was much closer to home. He went to Vancouver to set up an alternative care site.

Pandemic or no pandemic, one of the hardest things to go through in life is significant loss.
Grief is always difficult, but especially if you are alone or cannot be with a friend or family member. 

Sometimes the news can feel overwhelming and like it is only getting worse. Traumatic events can be sudden and unexpected. It is common to feel helpless, confused, angry or worried. It’s hard to understand why these things happen, or what it means for the future. Sometimes we might feel nothing at all. While there is no standard way to feel or act, there are some ways that you can recognize the signs of extreme stress in yourself and those around you, how you can practice self-care and how you can help support others.

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, healthcare systems are under strain to keep up with demand. This is one of the areas where the Canadian Red Cross is uniquely ready to respond and adapt to changing circumstances and needs.

Canadian Red Cross volunteer Kara Shiestel’s role quickly changed from being a responder to a recipient of care from the Red Cross after arriving in Trenton, Ontario for a period in quarantine. Being on the receiving end of Red Cross support, after training as a volunteer, helped Kara deal with the situation for herself and others.

Around the world, Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies are responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. While our responses may be different, based on the needs in our areas, our commitment to provide impartial aid to the most vulnerable can be seen in action. Here are just a few snapshots of the work underway.