159

​L’année qui se termine a été marquée par un nombre impressionnant de catastrophes ici et dans le reste du monde. Au Canada seulement, nous avons aidé plus de 150 000 personnes qui ont été victimes de désastres des tempêtes de verglas aux inondations, en passant par les feux de forêt dévastateurs.

What began as an online search for a mannequin to be used in a small display of historical items at our Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, building has reacquainted us with a long-retired volunteer who had an exceptional history with the Canadian Red Cross in Nova Scotia.

This past year was marked by an unprecedented number of disasters both at home and around the world. In Canada alone, we assisted more than 150,000 people who were affected by disasters such as ice storms, floods and devastating wildfires.

“The stress and anguish (people) go through, especially right after a disaster, and the emotional toll it takes to recover or deal with the situation – it affects everyone,” says Angelo Leo.  The Canadian Red Cross humanitarian from Vancouver has helped people impacted by disasters and emergencies as far away as Nepal, Bangladesh, and the Philippines. But this summer, he volunteered to help much closer to home. Leo is part of the Red Cross Safety and Well-being team and he went to Williams Lake to help people work through the trauma left behind by the massive wildfires that swept across much of British Columbia.

Il n’est jamais facile d’aider des gens dont le visage exprime douleur, abattement et panique. Quand des milliers d’entre eux ont déferlé du Myanmar vers les camps de transition du Bangladesh dans la nuit – trébuchant, gémissant, l’air hagard – la petite équipe de professionnels de la santé en provenance du Canada a dû s’atteler à l’énorme tâche devant eux.
 

When people think of hospitals, they think of doctors and nurses. They don’t always think of scientists in lab coats. But we are always there, hidden in the background, providing those doctors and nurses with critical patient information to guide their diagnosis and treatment decisions. Even in a field hospital in Bangladesh. 

When everyday health emergencies occur, we can sometimes feel overwhelmed in the moment – but it’s important to be prepared in order to spring into action to save a life.  In our recent ‘What To Do If’ series, we discussed what to do if someone is experiencing a panic attack; now we’re taking a look at what to do if someone around you appears to be having a heart attack.

Cette année, les équipes de la Croix-Rouge canadienne sont venues en aide à des demandeurs d’asile partout au pays. Elles ont notamment fourni des services de rétablissement des liens familiaux au poste frontalier de Saint-Bernard de Lacolle, au Québec. Offerts 24 heures sur 24, ces services ont permis aux familles séparées de demeurer en contact malgré la distance.