Community Health 24

Imagine having to gather your family and pack only the most essential items into your car before driving away from your home, not knowing if it would be there when you returned. That is the reality for many British Columbia residents, including Bonnie Netzlaw, who was evacuated from 100 Mile House.

Big or small, disasters impact the entire community. These are extremely stressful times, and children and youth can feel this stress just as much as the adults in their lives. Here are some ways that parents and caregivers can help during times of disaster and emergencies. 

In communities, big and small, local libraries are a meeting space for young and old and of course, a place to sign out books, DVDs and audiobooks. When High River’s library was severely damaged by the Southern Alberta Floods in 2013, it moved to a temporary location while repairs and rebuilding took place. It was then that unique needs started to emerge.

Disasters and emergencies, like the spring flooding that’s currently impacting Canadians across the country, put a lot of stress on people who are affected.  It’s important to remember that living through a disaster or emergency is extremely stressful, and because of that it’s totally normal to feel extremely stressed out. 

 “Although women and children have particular vulnerabilities following a disaster, they are also extremely resilient,” says Esmé Lanktree, Program Officer for Emergencies and Recovery for the Canadian Red Cross.

It’s that time of year – when so many of us will be noticing we’re feeling a little run down, maybe a little sniffly, maybe coughing and sneezing a few times – oh no, it’s cold and flu season! 
No one likes being sick, so how can you help prevent it?

Canadian singer-songwriter Elly Thorn was inspired to write “You Didn’t Even Know Me” when she and her husband were travelling and, although their surroundings were foreign to them, she was struck by how extremely welcoming their hosts were. Now Elly is using her song to help welcome Syrian refugees to their new home in Canada – with proceeds from the song going to the Canadian Red Cross.

The Democratic Republic of Congo is currently dealing with three epidemics at once: cholera, measles and yellow fever. The Democratic Republic of Congo Red Cross has been a key partner of their government in the fight against these recurrent epidemics, with hundreds of volunteers raising community-level awareness about preventative measures.