If you attended the 34th International Conference in Geneva this October, you may have come across The Global First Aid Reference Centre team, actively promoting First Aid training for people with disabilities. Team members collaborated with colleagues from the Bahrain and Saudi Red Crescent at the Humanitarian Village, showcasing innovative approaches to inclusive training.
Director Sendy Veerabadren and Technical Expertise Development Manager Kim-Léna Neenan, together with Dr. Fawzi Amin and Faisal Almehza from the Bahrain Red Crescent, shared inspiring testimonials from National Societies worldwide that are leading the way in training people with disabilities to save lives. Their goal? To encourage other National Societies to embrace and expand these efforts.
The booth featured a variety of interactive activities and resources, including quizzes on disability awareness and adaptations to First Aid training programs. Attendees could explore discussions on existing First Aid training models from around the globe and even take part in a special CPR challenge. In this unique challenge, participants attempted to perform CPR blindfolded for two minutes, competing for prizes. Adding to the experience, a First Aid training book written entirely in Braille, courtesy of the Saudi Red Crescent, was on display.
Visitors to the booth were also greeted with the enticing aroma of Arabic coffee and sweets, offered as a warm welcome to all who stopped by.
The event was a great success, sparking interest among many National Societies eager to adapt their First Aid training programs to be more inclusive. It also provided a valuable opportunity to connect with National Societies already working with people with disabilities, who generously shared their insights and experiences.
Looking ahead, The Global First Aid Reference Centre is currently developing guidelines to support Red Cross and Red Crescent National Societies worldwide in adapting their training programs. These guidelines are expected to be available in the coming months.
