To save lives from natural disasters

7. Providing Medical Relief

This activity involves providing medical care to protect the lives, health, and dignity of disaster victims.

The Japanese Red Cross Society dispatches medical teams to disaster areas immediately after a disaster occurs. Japanese Red Cross medical teams consist of doctors, nurses, administrative staff, and others. With around 500 teams across Japan, they provide medical treatment to disaster victims at evacuation centers and first aid posts in affected areas. In addition to providing first aid and diagnosing illnesses, they have also begun offering psychological support in recent years to help alleviate the emotional stress of disaster victims. Their activities are designed to provide care that is deeply attuned to the needs of those affected.

Volunteers play a vital role in these activities. Since the needs of disaster-affected areas vary, the involvement of volunteers who understand local conditions is especially important. Many of them support disaster victims by accompanying medical teams, driving vehicles, transporting first aid equipment, distributing food, and providing care in disaster-affected areas. In preparation for disasters, volunteers contribute to improving the disaster response capabilities of the local community by engaging in disaster prevention training and awareness-raising activities in peacetime.