Canadian Red Cross announces First Responder Initiative for disaster response

The Canadian Red Cross is pleased to announce the First Responder Initiative, which increases the Red Cross' capacity to prepare for and rapidly respond to disasters and includes the ability to quickly deploy tented field hospitals. The initiative is thanks to a generous contribution from the Government of Canada.

"We are incredibly grateful to the Government of Canada for this important contribution," says Conrad Sauvé, secretary general of the Canadian Red Cross. "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."

Red Cross field hospitals were deployed from Europe and Asia following the Jan. 12 earthquake in Haiti and the recent super flood in Pakistan. For the first time, these types of field hospitals can be deployed from Canada. The Canadian Red Cross aims to have its field hospital ready for deployment by Dec. 1, 2010.

"Despite the chaos and destruction that may surround it, Red Cross field hospitals provide vital health services that save lives," says Hossam Elsharkawi, Canadian Red Cross director of emergencies and recovery. "In Haiti, the Red Cross field hospital was set up quickly and within just six hours of arrival, surgery had begun."

Red Cross tented field hospitals can provide basic health care, vaccinations, surgery and mobile medical services as needed. They also include a psychosocial support unit and community-based health unit, both vital to helping heal psychological wounds and prevent the spread of disease. The Canadian Red Cross plans to have a field hospital and clinic ready for deployment December 1, 2010.  Both are modular and can be adapted to meet the needs of the disaster survivors.

In addition to the field hospitals, the First Responder Initiative ensures that the Canadian Red Cross has a strong nation-wide roster of qualified medical and technical professionals able to be deployed quickly. It will also build up the disaster preparedness and response capacity of Red Cross Societies in Nicaragua, Honduras, Haiti and the Dominican Republic. The local Red Cross is always the first to respond after a disaster so ensuring they are well-prepared is vital to saving lives.