Armenia ranks as one of the most disaster-prone nations globally, with vulnerability to all forms of disasters except those related to the sea. A concerning statistic is that traffic accidents account for half of the fatalities in the country, often proving lethal. A staggering 80% of deaths in Armenia are caused by emergencies and disasters.

Furthermore, the escalation of conflict in 2020 has resulted in communities along the international border with Azerbaijan experiencing severe humanitarian consequences. Such communities are at higher risk due to their remote locations and ongoing conflict, which often renders roads inaccessible.

Therefore, Armenian Red Cross Society launched a project aimed to establish an equipped first aid training unit run by skilled first aid instructors, within the regional branch structures, so that the population will benefit from improved access to timely first aid and safe transportation by skilled first aid providers.

Training and Target Audience

The main objective of the project was to train a target audience, including community members, teachers, local medical staff (nurses), community leaders/administration workers, those who own a private vehicle, and school children. They received basic first aid training, with a focus on safe transportation, and were provided with first aid materials/kits and the contacts of relevant referral medical facilities. They also developed and retained mechanisms to sustain and strengthen the volunteer network in regions. Moreover, community members strengthened their skills and coordinated action through simulation exercises.

Active Engagement in the Community

For the Armenian Red Cross Team, it was all about having community response teams actively engaged in the life of the community and organized first aid services during different mass events, cultural, and sports events. Thus, the main method of training was face-to-face interaction, with focus discussions and other methods depending on the peculiarities, age groups, and special needs of the participants. The First Aid Team confided: “We followed our vision and this project brought us one step closer to it: to have safe and secure country, where everyone is confident to receive and provide quality first aid”. After the training, most of the community members became Armenian Red Cross Society volunteers. Let’s save lives!