First aid gestures: the Red Cross initiates holidaymakers this summer

It’s never too late to learn first aid. As the French Red Cross points out in its press release, only 1 in 10 French people say they know what to do in the event of an emergency. This is why the association is mobilizing this summer in many cities in France to train the French free of charge in first aid gestures. Young and old alike are invited to this initiation.

“Summer that saves”

According to the French Red Cross, in total, nearly 80% of French people claim “being ill-prepared for crises and disasters”. To remedy this, many volunteer trainers will set up initiation workshops in first aid gestures. “Last summer, thousands of people were made aware of first aid! This summer again, the French Red Cross is increasing the possibilities for the general public to learn free first aid gestures, risk prevention major events, floods, accidents in everyday life or even social emergencies”, explains the French humanitarian aid association.

In order to make learning first aid gestures accessible, fun and friendly, initiations are offered from the age of 3, with no age limit. People with disabilities can also benefit from this training. In addition, volunteer trainers from the French Red Cross have planned to establish different types of initiation workshops:

• Introduction to Risk Reduction (IRR) : it allows the French to realize the need to prepare for the risks of disasters such as floods or fires. This way, they can better manage the consequences. During this initiation, volunteers will also discover the “Catakit” – a unique survival bag created by the CRF. The volunteer trainers will also “review the three stages of the disaster, from preparation to return to normal, through the immediate response while waiting for help”.
• First Aid Initiation : on the program, lateral safety position or cardiac massage associated with automated defibrillation… the volunteer trainers of the French Red Cross will teach simple but vital first aid gestures. These are essential to save a person’s life before help arrives.
• Initiation to First Aid and games on everyday life accidents : for children from the age of 3, volunteer trainers will introduce children in a fun way, to first aid gestures, while absorbing “the dangers of daily life, prevention as well as the behavior to have in the face of an accident”.

“As the first link in the rescue chain, it is essential that citizens acquire the right reflexes, accessible to all, to know how to react in the event of an emergency”declares the French Red Cross.

First aid gestures: where will the initiations take place?

In order to raise awareness among the French, the French Red Cross will visit more than 20 cities across France. The volunteer trainers have already been to Amiens, Belfort and Marseille, as well as to Muret (31). Rest assured, if you wish to attend these initiation workshops with friends, colleagues or family, here are some other dates to come:

• July 8 and August 5 in Bourges (18);
• July 9 in Bischheim (67);
• July 11 and August 24 in La Roche-de-Rame (05);
• July 14 in Dijon (21);
• July 15 in Gradignan (33);
• July 16 in Longeville-lès-Metz (57);
• July 17 and August 7 in Carnac (56);
• July 20 and August 10 in La Ciotat (13);
• July 21, August 11 and 12 in La Trinité-sur-Mer (56);
• August 2, 3, 4, 9, 10, 11, 12, 15, 16, 17, 18 and 19 in Lille (59);
• on August 13, 20, 26 and 27 in Paris, Quai de l’hôtel de Ville and at the Bassin de la Villette (75);
• August 15 in Arras (62);
• on August 19 in Illkirch-Graffenstaden (67);
• September 2 in Chartres (28);
• on September 3 in Cosnes-et-Romain (54).

You can also access the interactive map of Red Cross events.

In addition to the initiation to first aid gestures, a digital communication campaign has been set up. The latter was “designed around the double meaning of the word malaise, the campaign depicts embarrassing and funny situations with a simple and direct message: “There are malaises for which nothing can be done. For all the others, train yourself in first aid gestures”, says the Red Cross.

“And for those who wish to go further, it is also possible to register throughout the year for the training sessions offered within the various Red Cross structures throughout France: Prevention and Civic Relief at 1 (PSC1), Introduction to Child and Infant First Aid (IPSEN)”, concludes the French humanitarian aid association.