Canadian Red Cross Emergency Response Unit training can make a difference

Topics: Worldwide, Emergencies and Disasters Worldwide
July 19, 2013

Canadian Red Cross Emergency Response Unit training can make a difference

The Canadian Red Cross is one of the most active non-profit organizations in Canada and responds to a variety of emergency situations both in the country and abroad.

From relief for emergencies and disasters to providing support for a range of programs that help people gain vital emergency preparedness skills, the Canadian Red Cross offers an essential layer of support during times of need to individuals who have had to cope with the devastating impact of major, life-altering events.

When disasters and other incidents, including armed conflict, break out in a community, it can negatively affect the lives of the most vulnerable people in an area. One of the most important ways that the Red Cross works to provide relief after emergencies and disasters is with Emergency Response Units (ERUs).

ERUs can provide efficient and quality medical assistance in the aftermath of an emergency and support the long-term health needs of people impacted by it.

The benefits of ERUs
ERUs are comprised of highly trained and qualified medical professionals, social workers and midwives, as well as technicians and support staff who can ensure that the care provided to individuals is timely, standardized and effective.

The Canadian Red Cross has two health ERUs available for deployment in the event of an emergency - one is a field hospital and the other is a field clinic, or Basic Health Care Unit. These ERUs can be sent worldwide within 48 hours of a major incident and can operate for up to four months. Each ERU includes between 10 and 20 staff members, and after being set up in an area, may assist up to 300 individuals each day.

A day in the life
The healthcare providers, nurses, mental health professionals, logistics experts and administrators who dedicate their time to getting involved with the Red Cross' field hospitals are trained before a deployment in conditions that recreate the environment of a medical facility on the ground.

These simulated settings can help ERU delegates better understand the challenges and demands that real-world experiences will bring, but also give these individuals the tools they need to meet response needs.

One of the training exercises of the training course is mass casualty simulation, which requires that ERU delegates care for the victims of a mass casualty event, as well as respond to a disaster scenario to which they've already been deployed.

Juggling the demands of these two separate incidents is intended to be challenging, but can also pose as a test for delegates by helping them learn how to work together and communicate as a unit. After the exercise, members of the ERU are then encouraged to discuss problems and questions that arose during the training to define solutions.   

How you can help
Emergencies and disasters can happen at any time, and when they strike, they can impact the health and well-being of individuals who are living in the affected areas.

As one of the most active humanitarian organizations in Canada, the Canadian Red Cross maintains an international presence and works to provide assistance to those in need in the aftermath of life-threatening situations, including earthquakes, hurricanes, tsunamis and other events.

The Red Cross' committed team of volunteers and staff leap into action to help those impacted by hardships in a variety of ways, from providing aid on the ground to working as ERU delegates. The passion and knowledge that volunteers bring to the Red Cross each day ensure that people affected by emergencies and disasters receive vital assistance when they need it most.

To show your support for the humanitarian work of the Canadian Red Cross, please donate online or at your local office today. Each contribution is used to benefit those affected by emergencies and natural disasters worldwide, as well as to expand the reach of many programs that help individual acquire greater skills in the face of adversity. 

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