Getting help at disasters and events is a matter of life and death
Fate can strike anytime, anywhere. And then getting help quickly is a matter of life and death. The Red Cross shoots into action immediately to help in disasters. We do this by quickly deploying our local Red Cross branches, or by cooperating with other emergency services. Because of our experience, it is no coincidence that the government has officially designated us as its sole and preferential partner for this purpose. Whoever needs help can count on the Red Cross.
Would you like to support us financially?
We want to be able to continue providing optimal help in the event of a disaster but to do this we need money. Because your financial support is also needed tomorrow. Support today and change someone's life somewhere.
Donate with 40 euros 5 isothermal blankets and protect accident and disaster victims from hypothermia.
Our volunteers
Long live our volunteers. They are the hub of our operation. Every day they help lots of people in lots of different ways. They immediately spring into action to provide help, including in emergency and crisis situations. André (age 35) was on duty as an EMT after the attacks on March 22, 2016.
"All the emergency workers and volunteers responded very professionally at that time, we are trained for it. But I can't deny that there are a lot of feelings coursing through your body when you see all that suffering. All the time I tried to think I was in a movie, that the attack had not really happened. That way I could suppress my feelings and focus on what really mattered." For André, March 22 is forever etched in his memory.
How can you count on us?
During events, we provide care by setting up preventive aid stations. In addition, providing assistance during disasters is a basic mission for us. We are part of the overall emergency and intervention planning of medical, sanitary and psychosocial assistance. During a disaster, we take on three main tasks: medical assistance, transportation of the injured and psychosocial support.
Emergency stations at events
Where many people gather, the risk of accidents is high. With a preventive aid station at concerts, sporting events and festivals, our volunteers can provide immediate care and assistance.
Medical disaster relief
In the event of a disaster, ordinary emergency services do not always have sufficient resources. Our Rapid Intervention Team jumps right in to assist them. They bring all the equipment needed to quickly set up a medical post: inflatable tents, lighting, stretcher bars, medical equipment and emergency medication. This allows us to provide help immediately.
Transportation of the injured in disasters
In a disaster situation with many people affected, it comes down to providing the necessary care to as many people as possible as quickly as possible. We organize the transportation of injured people.
Psychosocial support in disasters
People affected by a shocking event need psychosocial support. We offer help to everyone: injured, uninjured, worried family members and involved caregivers.
Anyone can become a victim?
Danielle, who has been working as a Customer Services Agent for Aviapartner for 23 years, went to work at Zaventem airport around 7:30 a.m. on that particular March 22nd: "Everything went quietly. I remember well that a passenger handed me his ticket and then something exploded. I knew, felt immediately that it was an attack."
Not much later, a second bomb went off close to her workplace. As a result, she suffered permanent hearing damage. She still hears 60% less from her left ear and has difficulty understanding people when there is a lot of background noise. After the second blast, she fled for her life. In terror of encountering the terrorists, she did not run outside but ran to the other terminal to escape the chaos. Afterwards, she was told that a third bomb was present in that terminal ... she did not want to think about what could have happened if this bomb too had exploded.
Danielle makes it clear she has a life before March 22 and a life after the attacks. As much as she wants to get on with her life, this shocking event will always be part of it: "Saying goodbye to family and friends has taken on a completely different meaning after what happened. My daughter is in digs in Leuven and every Sunday night I have a hard time saying goodbye and hope to see her again on Friday night."
Will you please help too?
With a donation, you make a difference for victims of emergencies such as a fire or traffic accident. You help ensure that we can help quickly and efficiently everywhere in Flanders. What would happen if we were not there to help?
