Red Cross Talks (Page 68)

On September 2, 1998, flight Swissair 111 crashed off Nova Scotia’s picturesque fishing village of Peggy’s Cove. An hour after taking off from New York bound for Geneva, a fire prompted an attempt to reach Halifax for an emergency landing but the airliner crashed in St. Margaret’s Bay, killing all 229 passengers and crew.

At the Red Cross, we have been teaching swimming and water safety in Canada since 1946. We give people the knowledge and confidence they need to stay safe when they are on, in, or near the water. We also provide the training and skills for a fun and rewarding job – lifeguarding!

A lot of Canadians enjoy outdoor activities from hiking or biking to camping and so much more that our beautiful country offers. While enjoying, however, keep in mind some factors to be aware of, such as sun, bugs and accidents, which can be more challenging to handle outside. Prevention is key, and planning properly for outdoor adventures can minimize risks to fully enjoy our country's nature!

​Jean-Baptiste Lacombe shares a touching account of his two missions in Bangladesh from January 3 to February 20, 2018, where more than 600,000 people have found refuge after fleeing the violence in Myanmar since summer 2017.

In the aftermath of the Battle of Solferino in 1859, Red Cross Red Crescent founder Henry Dunant called upon local villagers to come aid the wounded - among those who answered the call was Norman Bethune from Ontario. The Bethune family continues this legacy. 

​In a country surrounded by the Caribbean Sea, the Cuban Red Cross understands the importance of being prepared for water emergencies, especially as a first responder. Through the CERA (Capacity Building for Emergency Response) Initiative, a Cuban Red Cross expert in water rescue has led trainings for two sister island nations: Haiti and the Dominican Republic.

Imagine a disaster strikes and thousands upon thousands of people might be injured or trapped. How do you begin to assess the damage? Map out the impacted area? Determine where you are most needed? By using new innovations like drones, humanitarian organizations can get where they are needed faster.

Canadian Red Cross volunteer Leslie White has spent most of her life ensuring the safety of those around water. Now as a City of St. John’s, Facilities Supervisor with the Department of Community Services in Newfoundland, her team oversees four aquatic centres, recreation facilities and more than 100 staff, while she volunteers with the Red Cross in multiple capacities.