redcross.ie

RESCUE SERVICES

The Irish Red Cross have developed specialist search and rescue teams to assist people missing, injured or in other difficulty on mountains and lakes. These specially trained volunteers are supported by our other services as required, and are a trusted auxiliary to agencies such as the Coastguard, the HSE and An Garda Siochána. Lifeboats The Irish Red Cross has two lifeboats serving Lough Corrib and Lough Mask. Our D-class lifeboat and Rigid Inflatable Boat (RIB) are manned entirely by volunteers and are an invaluable auxiliary to the local emergency services. Searches Irish Red Cross volunteers are regularly asked to assist other services in major lowland searches for missing people. These volunteers frequently give freely of their time and expertise participating in searches on foot and providing first aid when needed. Mountain Rescue The Irish Red Cross has two specialist mountain rescue teams: Sligo/Leitrim and Glen of Imaal, Co Wicklow. Irish Red Cross Mountain Rescue Teams provide a 24-hour on-call service for those lost or injured on the mountains of Sligo, Leitrim and Wicklow. These teams also assist elsewhere in Ireland when major searches are underway.

PRISON PROGRAMME

Ireland is the first country in the world to implement the Community Based Health and First Aid programme in a prison setting, with the prisoners themselves as Irish Red Cross volunteers and peer-to-peer educators. The programme operates under a partnership of the Irish Red Cross, the Irish Prison Service and Education & Training Boards (ETBs). It was initially piloted in Wheatfield prison in June 2009 and was extended to all 14 prisons throughout Ireland by 2014. Ireland was the first country in the world to introduce the Community Based Health and First Aid (CBHFA) programme in a prison setting.

OVERSEA PROGRAMMES

Our work is impartial and based solely on people’s needs. Our main focus in Yemen is to continue supporting the life-saving and essential activities carried out for the people of Yemen. This includes the provision of food, clean water, and essential household items as well as support to health structures. During this year alone, the Red Cross has reached more than 2 million people with basic aid. We will continue to work with our partners on the ground to address the emergency needs of people, particularly those in areas where fighting is ongoing, and to help strengthen the resilience of communities to the effects of prolonged violence.