English Blog Categories 49

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.

Have you ever wondered what living on an island is like? On Grand Manan Island, New Brunswick, living on an island is reality for myself and the rest of the population of 2,360 people. When you are isolated, you have no other choice but to pitch in. Most people wear multiple hats in the community. The rule of survival is to help your neighbours, friends, and family. 
 

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.

Five years ago today, a devastating 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck Nepal, killing approximately 9,000 people and injuring more than 20,000. The earthquake destroyed over 600,000 homes, damaged healthcare facilities, destroyed crops and decimated livestock.

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.

Volunteering is a part of life for the Jacobs family. Garry Jacobs has volunteered with the Canadian Red Cross in Red Deer, Alberta for 30 years – along with his wife Sandy and now his daughter Jodyne (who volunteers in Strathmore, Alberta). In February, Garry was awarded the highest volunteer honour from the Canadian Red Cross – the Order of Red Cross, for his incredible contributions to the movement.