1

In the early days of any emergency, whether it’s a new virus, wildfires or flooding, we frequently see a surge of inaccurate, misleading or at times blatantly false information circulating on social media and through word of mouth. Why is that? Where does this misinformation come from and what impact does it have on those trying to respond to the emergency?

Imagine arriving to a new country without knowing anyone, not speaking the language or knowing how to access the services you may need. This is the situation for many refugees worldwide. To address this need, the Canadian Red Cross established a program called First Contact in 2001. First Contact helps by giving refugees access to information about emergency shelter, social services, legal and health services.

It’s easy to tell people to have a kit ready for a disaster, but that doesn’t mean it’s always simple for people to put them together. Purchasing all the items you need for you and your family to be ready for at least three days can seem expensive – but it is worth it! Here is how to get your kit ready without blowing your budget.

Read how a company in Saskatchewan is providing mental health tools for employees. 

Sometimes we're asked about how aid workers stay safe. There are many ways that humanitarian organizations like Red Cross work to make sure aid workers have the security needed to do their work, including training them for working in insecure areas. 

Walking my kids to school every day, even during the winter, has taught me to always be mindful of the temperature outside. However, when something is done daily, it becomes routine, and complacency can set in. This is how I learned about frostbite.

In 2019, the Central American region suffered the most extensive dengue outbreak of the decade, with more than one million people affected by the outbreak. With the support of the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent, National Societies are working alongside communities in the most affected areas to equip them with the information and materials necessary to control and mitigate the effects of the dengue outbreak.

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.