British Red Cross teams up with Swansea Council to help people during emergencies

The charity and the council will now work closely together to make sure people get the help they need in an emergency. This might include checking on people, giving out supplies, helping with shelter, or sending out trained volunteers.

“We’re very happy to be working with the council”, said Laurie Wynne, British Red Cross Emergency Response manager for Wales.

“Together, we can make sure that people are safe and looked after when something goes wrong. We have an experienced team of emergency response volunteers in Swansea, who have supported at major incidents including floods, fires, residential gas explosions, and recently helped people affected by Storms Bert and Darragh.” 

This landmark agreement will ensure coordinated efforts in the event of emergencies and other planned or unforeseen incidents that impact residents of Swansea council. Under the new partnership, the British Red Cross will work closely with the council’s emergency planning and community services teams to provide volunteer mobilisation, assistance with rest centres, welfare checks and logistical support where needed.

The highly trained Emergency Response team is made up of volunteers from the British Red Cross who give their time freely, responding to incidents 365 days of the year, 24 hours a day. They are able to attend different kinds of emergency incidents to support people in crisis, such as domestic fires, floods or major incidents. The vehicle they use has been specially adapted for emergencies, stocked with practical items people may need such as clothes, blankets and hygiene packs.

David Hopkins, Joint Deputy Leader of the Council, said: “Major incidents are thankfully rare. But our teams are well-prepared and trained to step up at a moment’s notice to support those most affected in an emergency.

“We work closely with the emergency services and this new agreement with the British Red Cross strengthens our relationship with them and improves the resilience of our emergency response arrangements.

“Best of all, working with the support of the British Red Cross means our residents have further reassurance that if there a major incident, their volunteers will be here for them.

“This is all about helping our community. By working with the Red Cross, we can reach people more quickly and offer more support when it’s needed most.”

The agreement also means the charity and the council will practice how to respond to emergencies together and share important information how to stay prepared.

#BritishRedCross #CllrDavidHopkins #emergency #EmergencyResponse #Swansea #SwanseaCouncil

It was formed in the late nineteenth century around ‘a belief in the power of kindness’ and that is exactly what The British Red Cross is bringing today to the frontline of one of the busiest Emergency Departments in Wales.

Often armed with a smile and a cup of tea, their role is to support patients and their families, and carry out non clinical duties clinical staff simply do not have the time to do.

BRC service manager, Sinead Pollard, said:

“We operate Monday to Friday from 10am to 6pm, providing any practical and emotional support for the patients within ED.

“It’s a very busy environment and people are incredibly stressed, scared, not quite sure what’s going on – so we just provide what I call ‘the human element’, which can often get lost in an ED environment.

“It’s about taking time out to recognise if a patient is struggling, and what we can do for them. 

“It could be someone has come in and they have had their clothes torn from some sort of injury. We can go and get them clothes.

“From there we will see if they need anything to drink, or anything to eat. Does anyone know they are here? Can we contact anyone for them? Does their phone need charging? It kind of all flows from there.

“We do the things that the nurses don’t have the time to do, which mean so much to a patient. Especially within the last few years. The NHS is really under pressure – that’s why we have been brought in. 

“Everyone needs to feel supported. Anything that’s going to make their stay here a little bit easier.”

Although The British Red Cross has charitable status the team in Morriston is funded by the health board.

Sinead said: “We do have volunteers as well. We have two who have just started and five volunteer opportunities altogether. We are hoping to get more volunteers to help support us in what we are doing.”

The Morriston team is currently made up of a team leader, one full time support worker and two part time casual support workers.

Bethan Davies, team leader, couldn’t be prouder of them and said:

“The team are absolutely fantastic. Every one of them. They know exactly how to use their initiative and they spend all their time making sure the patients are happy, they go above and beyond. 

“They are an absolute credit to The British Red Cross.”

Bethan said their role was difficult to describe as it’s different every single day.

She said: “We’re absolutely everywhere with the ED, including the waiting room and in the clinical areas.

“We also support the Welsh Ambulance Service Trust as well.

“There’s no routine to it whatsoever. We could can be pulled from pillar to post depending upon what’s going on.

“Whether it’s a patient kicking off who needs a bit of calming down, or an end of life patient who you will go and sit with and get the pastoral team in if they have some form of faith. 

“Or looking after staff welfare if they are having a hard day. It varies.”

The team often act as a go-between between patients or relatives and staff.

“We liaise a lot between patients and staff,” continue Bethan. If the patients tell us they need to go to the toilet or they’re feeling uncomfortable and need to move up the bed, then what we will do in that situation is go and get a member of staff and make them aware.”

As for the downside, Bethan said there wasn’t any.

“I can’t say there are any challenges as I love every aspect of the job,” she said.

Casual support workers Wendy Latham said the qualities you need for the role were simple.

“It’s the importance of being kind. You just need to come in and have a smile on your face and be kind. That’s the attitude you need.”

Full time support worker Debbie Jones said:

“I love every aspect of it. I’ve dealt with end of life care, generally chatting with people, helping those with dementia, supporting families, helping with meal times, fetching things for the nurses, going to the stores, going to the canteen. 

“No two hours are the same. It’s amazing.

“I find the patients and their families are very grateful. I’ve been going around with feedback cards and they are all very complimentary.

“I’ve also asked the staff and they say that the service would be lost without us and they would love to see our service extended seven days a week.”

Staff nurse Perdi Perrin was full of praise for the team and said:

“Staff morale is not great at the moment and the support we get from the Red Cross team is second to none. Without them I think we would struggle a lot more.”

[Lead image: Swansea University Health Board]

https://swanseabaynews.com/2024/09/08/british-red-cross-administers-kindness-in-emergency-department/

#BritishRedCross #MorristonHospital #Swansea

Just under two weeks ago my father woke with really bad pain. He's been in hospital twice, and had several other consultations. #NHS (& #BritishRedCross) have been amazing. If this is the service when it's on it's uppers, just imagine what it could be.

Been a dramatic transition for me too: from 3-4 hours a day in a light support role (cooking, cleaning etc) to a more intensive near continual presence. ✅ He's still managing washing, dressing etc for himself.

I totally reälise that money is really tight for so many of us; but if you have a little to spare, please consider making a donation to #BritishRedCross. 73% of donations go to their actual causes - per #Channel4News the best average donation by charities is 74%, so they are on par. If one wishes, one may donate to UK causes only or specific problem-areas around the Globe: YOU decide where your donation goes. Please give back something if you possibly can! 🙏🏻🌈💕

https://www.redcross.org.uk/

When you're up against the values of the Red Cross, you should take stock.

https://www.redcross.org.uk/get-help

#BritishRedCross
#IllegalMigrationBill

In light of another #earthquake in #Turkey, I want to remind people that they can donate to #BritishRedCross who are providing aid to those affected. I have a campaign here: https://tiltify.com/@edtrots/turkey-syria-earthquake-appeal

If you'd rather donate directly, you can do so here: https://donate.redcross.org.uk/appeal/turkey-syria-earthquake-appeal

Thank you.

RT @BritishRedCross: EMERGENCY: Thousands have died and many more are injured and trapped under rubble. Every minute counts, please donate at this critical time, if you can. #DEC #BritishRedCross

🐦🔗: https://n.respublicae.eu/Jude_KD/status/1626139459958841344

Coming up to the holidays so a #FirstAid thought for you, there are many online resources to learn a few simples skills (Cardiac arrest, AED, Heart Attack, etc...), why not try one over the holiday period, simple skills that can and do save lives:

#BHF - https://www.bhf.org.uk/how-you-can-help/how-to-save-a-life/how-to-do-cpr/learn-cpr-in-15-minutes

#ResusUK - https://life-saver.org.uk/

#BritishRedCross - https://www.redcross.org.uk/first-aid