Disaster preparedness programme

Disaster preparedness programme

According to the International Federation's starategy 2010 disaster preparedness is one of the priority areas. Lithuanian Red Cross also started this programme. Since 2002 LiRC started 3 pilot projects in 3 local committees - Vilnius region, Kaunas and Šilutė. 3 Disaster preparedness team were formed in these committes (the DP team consist of 17 members: leader, his asistant, 5 first aid instructors, 5 instructors in psychological aid, 5 seach and rescue instructors). Two members of LiRC National board V.Burbulis and V.gailius are working at Civil Defense department and the Center for Extreme health situations. So the relations between those institutions and the Red CRoss became very close. The meeting of interested institutions was organised which identified role of the Lithuanian Red Cross in the National Disaster preparedness plan. LiRC participated in exercises organized by Civil Defense.

During april-may 2003 the disaster preparedness teams raised their skills in search and rescue, first aid, and psychologica aid trinings. During summertime joint training summer camp took place in Kaunas. During the whole year DP teams participated in 3 exercises arranged by national civil defense institutions.
The yaer 2004 continued with more trainings for DP team members. They also participated in the international trainings in Bratislava (Slovakia), Budapest (Hungary), Cracow (Poland, Serbai and other countries.

Disaster preparedness programme of Lithuanian Red Cross is strongly supported by Nordic national societies. During 2004 international exercises in Estonia, and Lithuania took place. Members of disaster preparedness team were trained by nordic instructors and specialists.

First Aid Training

First Aid training is one of priority activities of Lithuanian Red Cross. This programme started in 1991. At present there are 40 certified FA instructor, 181 voluntary first aid instructors and 5 youth first aid instructors volunteers. Lithuanian Red Cross collected good training materials in first aid (manequins, leafets, first aid manuals, training video etc.).

First aid training for children

Lithuanian red Cross provide 8 hour first aid trainings for schoolchildern for free. During 2003 - 2004 school year we trained 21 072 pupils at 257 school arround Lithuania. In the summertime first aid trainings are organized at different summer camps. During summer of 2004 we trained 1386 kids in 20 summercamp.

Schoolchildren test their knowledge by organizing first aid competitions between clases and between school. In 2004 First aid competitions between school were arranged in Vilnius city, Vilnius region, Kėdainai, rokiškis, Kuršėnai, Naujoji Akmenė, Klaipėda, Šilutė, Skuodas, Telšiai, Utena, Mažeikiai, Rietavas, Tauragė, Pagėgiai and panevėžys.

During 2003-2004 Lithuanian Red Cross arranged road safety and first aid campaign "Yo've only got one life... take care" . The same campaign was carried on in 25 Euroean Red Cross societies. The campaign was for 7-11 years old kids.