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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.
 

On January 8, a plane carrying 176 people, including 57 Canadians, crashed outside of Tehran, Iran. The loss of life is enormous, and the impact has been felt deeply by communities across the country. Among the deceased was Canadian Red Cross volunteer Mohammad Asadi Lari. Mohammad was passionate about making the world a better place, which was evident in all the incredible contributions he made to the Canadian Red Cross. 
 

Red Cross volunteer Ibtesam Eisa tells us about why she volunteers and what working with the Red Cross means to her. 

Long-time paramedic, Lyle Karasiuk, was taking a routine call for a person lying on a street in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan. When he arrived, he found three people - a man lying on the ground, one woman standing and talking on her phone, and a second woman crouching beside the man scrolling on her phone.

As Canadians, we’ve learned to make the best of our cold, snowy winters. We’ve found many ways to keep ourselves entertained in the chilly winter months with activities like skiing, skating, snowshoeing and even swimming. You read that right - every winter, thousands of Canadians put on their bathing suits and take a dip in the icy waters, an activity called the Polar Bear Plunge.

Take a look at this list of things we think you should do – whether to better prepare yourself, for emergency situations, or to help others, tackling this list would make for a great New Year ahead!