A look at the new Canadian Red Cross field hospital

This week, the Canadian Red Cross announced its first-ever field hospital, which could be deployed in emergencies, such as in Haiti or Pakistan. Red Cross delegates, including doctors, nurses, logistical and technical experts, were involved in a rigorous training exercise that lasted throughout the week. The training was a mock disaster and delegates had to set up the hospital, prepare an operating room, handle media requests, respond to mass casualities (a mock demonstration, of course) -- and all the while, they slept in tents in the cold, wet weather. The Red Cross is proud of its delegates, and we wanted to share with you images from the field hospital taken during yesterday's media announcement with the Government of Canada.

Thank you to photographer Johan Hallberg-Campbell, of Pikto, who took these photos for the Canadian Red Cross.

The Honourable Beverley J. Oda, Minister of International Cooperation, announces Canada's support to the Canadian Red Cross's First Responder Initiative/ Photo credit: Johan Hallberg-Campbell
The Honourable Beverley J. Oda, Minister of International Cooperation, announces Canada's support to the Canadian Red Cross's First Responder Initiative/ Photo credit: Johan Hallberg-Campbell
Canadian Red Cross delegates take a break from intense week-long training to watch the official announcement of the First Responder Initiative. / Photo credit: Johan Hallberg-Campbell
Canadian Red Cross delegates take a break from intense week-long training to watch the official announcement of the First Responder Initiative. / Photo credit: Johan Hallberg-Campbell
Conrad Sauvé, secretary general of the Canadian Red Cross, says:
Conrad Sauvé, secretary general of the Canadian Red Cross, says: "The First Responder Initiative allows us to build on our strong disaster response experience, and given the increase and frequency of large disasters internationally, ensuring we prepare accordingly is vital." / Photo credit: Johan Hallberg-Campbell

 
Tanya Elliott, director of Red Cross Ontario zone public affairs, welcomes guests to the official announcement. / Photo credit: Johan Hallberg-Campbell
Tanya Elliott, director of Red Cross Ontario zone public affairs, welcomes guests to the official announcement. / Photo credit: Johan Hallberg-Campbell

 
Red Cross delegates show the inside of one tent that is part of the Emergency Response Unit. / Photo credit: Johan Hallberg-Campbell
Red Cross delegates show the inside of one tent that is part of the Emergency Response Unit. / Photo credit: Johan Hallberg-Campbell

 
A sanitation station set up at the Emergency Response Unit. / Photo credit: Johan Hallberg-Campbell
A sanitation station set up at the Emergency Response Unit. / Photo credit: Johan Hallberg-Campbell

 
Media film the Honourable Beverley J. Oda, Minister of International Cooperation, as she tours the field hospital facilities. / Photo credit: Johan Hallberg-Campbell
Media film the Honourable Beverley J. Oda, Minister of International Cooperation, as she tours the field hospital facilities. / Photo credit: Johan Hallberg-Campbell

 
A Red Cross delegate shows the inside of the tent, part of the Emergency Response Unit, where operations can be performed. / Photo credit: Johan Hallberg-Campbell
A Red Cross delegate shows the inside of the tent, part of the Emergency Response Unit, where operations can be performed. / Photo credit: Johan Hallberg-Campbell

 
Red Cross delegates, including doctors, nurses, technical and logistical experts, trained for a week so that they can be prepared for deployment with the field hospital, as early as Dec. 1, 2010. / Photo credit: Johan Hallberg-Campbell
Red Cross delegates, including doctors, nurses, technical and logistical experts, trained for a week so that they can be prepared for deployment with the field hospital, as early as Dec. 1, 2010. / Photo credit: Johan Hallberg-Campbell

 
Red Cross delegates, including doctors, nurses, technical and logistical experts, trained for a week so that they can be prepared for deployment with the field hospital, as early as Dec. 1, 2010. / Photo credit: Johan Hallberg-Campbell
Red Cross delegates, including doctors, nurses, technical and logistical experts, trained for a week so that they can be prepared for deployment with the field hospital, as early as Dec. 1, 2010. / Photo credit: Johan Hallberg-Campbell

 
Red Cross delegates, including doctors, nurses, technical and logistical experts, trained for a week so that they can be prepared for deployment with the field hospital, as early as Dec. 1, 2010. / Photo credit: Johan Hallberg-Campbell
Red Cross delegates, including doctors, nurses, technical and logistical experts, trained for a week so that they can be prepared for deployment with the field hospital, as early as Dec. 1, 2010. / Photo credit: Johan Hallberg-Campbell

 
The Honourable Beverley J. Oda, Minister of International Cooperation, praised Red Cross delegates for their hard work. /Photo credit: Johan Hallberg-Campbell
The Honourable Beverley J. Oda, Minister of International Cooperation, praised Red Cross delegates for their hard work. /Photo credit: Johan Hallberg-Campbell

 
Provincial Disaster Management Director, John Saunders, is interviewed by Rogers TV. / Photo credit: Johan Hallberg-Campbell
Provincial Disaster Management Director, John Saunders, is interviewed by Rogers TV. / Photo credit: Johan Hallberg-Campbell

 
A Red Cross delegate hard at work at the field hospital. / Photo credit: Johan Hallberg-Campbell
A Red Cross delegate hard at work at the field hospital. / Photo credit: Johan Hallberg-Campbell

 
 
 
 
Red Cross tented field hospitals can provide basic health care, vaccinations, surgery and mobile medical services as needed. The Canadian Red Cross plans to have a field hospital and clinic ready for deployment December 1, 2010. / Photo credit: Johan Hallberg-Campbell
Red Cross tented field hospitals can provide basic health care, vaccinations, surgery and mobile medical services as needed. The Canadian Red Cross plans to have a field hospital and clinic ready for deployment December 1, 2010. / Photo credit: Johan Hallberg-Campbell
A look inside the operating theatre of the Emergency Response Unit. / Photo credit: Johan Hallberg-Campbell
A look inside the operating theatre of the Emergency Response Unit. / Photo credit: Johan Hallberg-Campbell

 
A look inside the operating theatre of the Emergency Response Unit. / Photo credit: Johan Hallberg-Campbell
A look inside the operating theatre of the Emergency Response Unit. / Photo credit: Johan Hallberg-Campbell

 
 
A look inside the operating theatre of the Emergency Response Unit. / Photo credit: Johan Hallberg-Campbell
A look inside the operating theatre of the Emergency Response Unit. / Photo credit: Johan Hallberg-Campbell

 
Medical equipment from inside the field hospital shown here. / Photo credit: Johan Hallberg-Campbell
Medical equipment from inside the field hospital shown here. / Photo credit: Johan Hallberg-Campbell

 
 
 

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