“I have acquired practical First Aid tips from the course, such as cleaning wounds, triangular bandage etc. If everyone is equipped with basic First Aid knowledge, they can assist the patient in need before the ambulance crew arrives. I hope to see more First Aid seminars and courses around the city, so that more people are prepared to help others.” - Philip
In face of accidents, one may be temporarily disoriented. But if equipped with sufficient knowledge about First Aid, one can reduce the likelihood of accidents, or minimize their damages.
The Hong Kong Red Cross advocates “First Aid for All” with the mission to provide everyone with an opportunity to learn about First Aid. We proactively collaborate with different community organizations to provide First Aid classes for people from different backgrounds. Participants are taught practical First Aid skills and safety measures to prevent and handle accidents. As such, they are capable of “Protecting human life and Caring for the health of the vulnerable”.
Understanding First Aid – Improve confidence. Assist yourself and others.
“First Aid courses for the auditory and verbally impaired have the same in content as regular ones. Yet, instructors are more aware of our needs. They explain things patiently until we fully understand them. This time, I passed the exam.”
- Ling, previous participant of a First Aid course
designed for auditory and verbally impaired people
designed for auditory and verbally impaired people
One time, Ling ran into a person suffering dizziness on the street. Incapable of helping, Ling soon realized the importance of First Aid. However, it wasn’t easy for an auditory and verbally impaired person like Ling to learn First Aid. Although she has registered in regular First Aid courses in the past, she struggled to follow the classes and ended up failing the examination.
Yet, Ling did not give up. She enrolled in the standard first Aid certificate course for the audibly and verbally impaired, run by the Hong Kong Red Cross. From the course, she was introduced to proper treatments of Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation, External Bleeding and Bone Fracture. Under the patient tutelage of the course instructor, and assistance from the sign language translator, Ling studied exceptionally hard and finally got her First Aid Certificate.
The First Aid Certificate was not only a recognition of Ling’s ability, but also an encouragement for her to help others with it. “Whenever I see parents panic because their kids hurt themselves while playing, I assure them with confidence that I am qualified in First Aid, and am capable of treating wounds properly, ” said Ling, who now has a part time job in a convenient store near a park.
Parents are very appreciative of Ling’s passion for helping others. However, Ling see First Aid as a means to better herself too.“Auditory and verbally impaired people suffer inconvenience in daily life. They are also more prone to injuries. I hope more people can be equipped with First Aid skills, so to lend a helping hand to others when needed.”
First Aid – Connecting communities and lives
“Once, an old lady living next door fainted. At that time, I didn’t know what to do and gave her water to drink. From this course, I learnt that this treatment was not correct. It is very important to know of the right way of conducting First Aid.”
- Shou Wan (right), Student from the “First Aid Kit
for Vulnerable Groups” project
for Vulnerable Groups” project
First Aid is not only helpful in catastrophes. Rather, it is useful in our daily lives. Every day, we or those around us may twist our ankles due to running for transport, cut or burn ourselves by cooking etc. To raise the awareness of First Aid and provide people from different backgrounds with a chance to acquire the skills, the Hong Kong Red Cross initiated the “First Aid Kit for Vulnerable Groups” project with community groups. Participating families are given free First Aid lessons and First Aid kits. As such, they acquire First Aid knowledge and are more alert about safety to prevent accidents. Under urgent situations, they are more alert in remaining calm to help themselves and others.
“I used to panic when faced with injuries or accidents in life, such as witnessing people fainting on the street, or kids falling and bleeding. I would try to look for useful information online, but wouldn’t be sure about their accuracy. I am grateful for the opportunity to learn from professional instructors. Now, I’m more confident in dealing with the above situations in the future.” - Mina
“I witnessed a major traffic accident near my workplace. The situation was dire so I rushed to help. I am aware that accidents can happen any time. It has always been my wish to learn First Aid. This seminar has introduced me to some basic knowledge and I hope to master more techniques in the future, including Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation, so that I can offer more help in critical moments.” - Lung
“We have always been taught to tilt our heads up while our noses bleed. Our instructor told us that is incorrect. I now know what to do if my son’s nose bleeds the next time. Also, I was given a First Aid kit, and taught the correct usage of the items inside. These are all very handy and useful in daily life.” - Ming
“I have two kids and it is often easy for kids to get hurt at play. First Aid knowledge is often useful. This course has equipped me to deal with accidents in daily life. Its format and scheduling suit the need of working mothers like me. I wish in the future to attend First Aid lessons with my children.” - Louis
“First Aid Kit for Vulnerable Groups” project – Free First Aid Kit are given to participants of the project, encouraging them to practice their First Aid skills at home, such as treating wounds; and be more ready to administer First Aid when needed.
Caring for the elderly – prevent and handle accidents
First aid techniques aside, home safety knowledge is another main area covered in the elderly-specific first aid workshop in preventing daily home accidents.
Through situational quizzes and role-plays, elderly can learn to deal with unexpected accidents while applying knowledge in a fun and interactive way.
The Hong Kong Red Cross has always cared for the elderly, and encourages lifelong learning. Every year, a number of elderly are injured to a different degree in domestic accidents. As such, the Hong Kong Red Cross has initiated the “5 Stars Health, 5 Stars Home” Community Health Education Project in Tai Po, Tuen Mun, Kwai Ching, Wong Tai Sin since 2003. By introducing basic First Aid knowledge to the elderly, the project hopes to raise safety awareness, and prevent accidents.
Mr. Chui, who has participated in the “5 Stars Health, 5 Stars Home" Community Health Education Project Elderly First Aid Workshop, expressed, “I used to apply soy sauce or tooth paste on burnt skin surfaces before I joint the workshop. Now, I understand that we must cool the burnt surface down with plenty of water, dry it with gauze and wrap it properly. After the workshop, I realized that some practices I have used all my life was not correct.”
Jenny, another participant, has similar experience. “Once, I twisted my ankles when climbing stairs. A senior person suggested that heat reduces swelling. So I applied a boiled egg to the injury. Instead of reducing swelling, this has worsened the situation. After the workshop, I learnt that heat actually causes the blood vessels to expand and worsen swelling. Now, I know that we should apply ice to such injury. If ice bags are not available at home, frozen vegetable packs from the freezer can be substitute!”
Heart attack is the second most common fatal disease in Hong Kong. With age, the heart blood arteries deteriorate. In response to this, the Hong Kong Red Cross introduces the Adult Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation & Automated External Defibrillation Introduction Workshop for Elderly.
In this 4-hour training workshop (split in two sessions), elderly learn about heart attack through theories, demonstrations, practicum as well as virtual cases. Most importantly, they learn how to administer Adult Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation & Automated External Defibrillation. This allows them to seize the golden moment for life-saving at an emergency situation, and provide appropriate treatments to save lives.
Popularizing First Aid, Rescue More Lives
“I am particularly passionate about teaching First Aid beginner courses. The more new participants we train, the better good we do to the public. They can then give others a hand in urgent situations with professional knowledge.”
- Mr. Stephen Chan, HKRC’s First Aid training lecturer
“It all begins with that helping hand. I was sinking to the bottom of the swimming pool, literally drowning to my death by accident. A strong hand took hold of my arm. The next minute I was found by the pool side. Breathing. I never get to see the person who saved me. My taking as a First Aid lecturer is definitely a show of gratitude and respect for him.”
As a HKRC First Aid training lecturer, Stephen is currently responsible for First Aid Course as to corporations and to elderly in the “5 Stars Health, 5 Stars Home” Community Health Education Project.
“Elderly is simple. They are very susceptible to their surroundings. Most of them take First Aid training for the well-being of their companion.” Knowing the caring heart of the group, during his workshop, Stephen focuses on talking about First Aid measures on common elderly issues, such as immediate ways to deal with injuries caused by a fall or chocking. It is hoped that by acquiring First Aid knowledge, elderly can play a key role in protecting the people they care and bring about a positive change to their surroundings.
First Aid for All
“Looking ahead, we will continue to integrate innovation technology into our First Aid training programmes and workshops. We envision to encourage the general public not only to see First Aid training as a personal project or for own use, but a project that would benefit the entire community. We encourage them to share, to promote, to truly help us in realizing the vision of First Aid for All.”
- Mr Eric Lau, Head of The Hong Kong Red Cross
Health & Care Service Department
Health & Care Service Department
Childhood, adulthood, elderhood – literally at any stage of life, accidents occur the way they have to. As such, the acquisition of First Aid knowledge has nothing to do with age and social background, but rather a universal means to secure the life of oneself as well as people who are in need around.
In the age of information technology, Mr Eric Lau, Head of The Hong Kong Red Cross Health & Care Service Department, expresses his faith towards the utilization of new technology in promoting First Aid for All to the mass public. “Following our launch of the free Hong Kong Red Cross First Aid App last year, this January, we have also introduced the Standard First Aid Certificate Course (Blended Learning), Hong Kong’s first ever training course in combing online and offline modules in the formation of its First Aid curriculum. In such a way, participants can access First Aid knowledge more handily from our online platform, while face-to-face lessons time can be more focused on actual application. Looking forward, we will continue to explore the feasibility of integrating innovation technology to enhance public convenience in the acquisition of First Aid basics with a determined vision in progressively equipping more general public with the ability to constructive response at times of emergencies.”
Most of the time, accidents just occur the way they do, but they are still preventable. Your generous donation of HK$500, HK$800 or even HK$1,000 will not only mean to the vulnerable groups an opportunity to acquire first aid knowledge for safety’s sake of themselves and others, but also a heartening support for us to further extend other humanitarian services to different parts of our community, which would inevitably bring to the needy a more loving and nurturing neighborhood.
Best wishes,
Bonnie So
Secretary General
Bonnie So
Secretary General