History of LRC

The Lebanese Red Cross (LRC) is a humanitarian organization established on July 9 1945 as an independent national society.In 1946, it was recognized by the State as a public non profit organization and as an auxiliary team to the medical service Lebanese Army.In 1947, the Lebanese Red Cross joined the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and became a member of the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies ever since.Following the years of civil strife, the LRC had to reorient its services towards postwar requirements.In 1993, the society established along-term development plan leading up to 2000. An extension of the development plan is expected to take place in 2002, to cover the period up until 2005.The LRC Society is led by volunteers, whose mission is to provide relief to victims of natural and human made disasters, and help people prevent, prepare for and respond to emergencies, and to mitigate the suffering of the most vulnerable.

The fundamental principles of the LRC :
Humanity - Impartiality - Neutrality - Independence - Voluntary Service - Unity – Universality

Emergency Response

The LRC started to provide its first aid services in 1964. There were only 12 first aid volunteers at the time. In 1975, the number of volunteers increased to 150 first aiders due to the need created by the Lebanese civil war. In 1982, with the escalation of the Israeli hostilities against Lebanon, this number increased to reach 1000 first aiders in 27 centers. Today, there are almost 2400 volunteers (male and female) spread over 42 first aid centers and 3 operation rooms across the country.

First Aid and Emergency Services
First Aid Teams (volunteers) provide first aid and emergency services on the Lebanese territories around the clock, all year long. These services are: First aid and urgent transport of the victims of accidents on road, mountain and home; first aid for heart attack victims (CPR); first aid for children and sick people at home; first aid posts in national sport, cultural, and art celebrations and ski resorts; transport of patients from and to hospitals, transport of corpses (in special cases); transport of blood units to hospitals (in emergencies); first aid within first aid centers.

Day time First Aid
Before 1995, first aid teams worked from 6 PM in the evening till 6 AM in the morning. But since 1995, the LRC started to provide first aid and emergency services during the day in the Lebanese territories, based on a joint agreement with the Ministry of Public Health.

Medical Emergency
This service started in 2003 in North Lebanon upon a request from the Public Health Ministry. When this service is required, doctors on duty in operation rooms respond to 140 calls by sending normal or medical ambulances, depending on the case of the patient or injured, to transport them to specialized hospitals. To carry out this task, the doctors and first aid workers were given special training.

Rescue Call : 140

Any person who suffers an accident (work, car, ski, home ...etc) can dial 140 toll free number from any phone (regular or mobile) and from any region in Lebanon. The first aid teams will immediately answer his/her rescue call.
Specialized programs: The administration of the first aid teams has a plan to enhance the skills of the first aid teams. Accordingly the following programs were adopted:



First aid - road accidents: Special medical and rescue tools is used for this purpose. When necessary, the Civil Defense and Fire Department are called for support.

First aid - snow & mountain rescue: Teams are trained to deal with snow accidents using state of the art tools, search poles, stretchers, scooters, special boots, ropes and ladders.

First aid-water rescue: Rescue operations in cooperation and collaboration with the Fire Department and Civil Defense.

First aid-sport activities: Temporary first aid posts are set up in sport events, social celebrations festivals and activities.

Enhancement & development of drivers’ and team leaders’ skills: Specialized training programs under the direct supervision of the national training committee of the first aid teams.



140 FREE EMERGENCY LINE FROM ANY FIXED OR CELL PHONE
While reacting to motor accidents, first aiders have noticed that most casualties have a mobile phone. In such situations, the first aiders do not know who to contact from the phonebook.
Therefore, an idea has been launched to store emergency contact under the same pseudonym.The proposed “pseudonym” is ICE, internationally known as “In Case of Emergency”. This contact should contain the number of the person to be contacted in case of an emergency.
If more than one person should be contacted, ICE1, ICE2, ICE3, etc… contacts can also be used. This is very easy to do, does not cost a thing and can bring so much.

Volunteers and members

Voluntary service is the corner stone of the LRC work. The Society relies, in its work and activities, on the efforts of its volunteers (men and women) of different ages, each according to his or her specialization, skills and knowledge, in order to fulfill local, national and international needs. Voluntary service is a fundamental principle and one characteristic of the interactive National Society.The LRC receives volunteers wishing to support the services, work and activities of the Society. These volunteers get trained on essential skills so that they can perform their voluntary work on local, national or international levels.

Volunteers’ recruitment
All Lebanese are welcome to volunteer all year long. Recruitment of volunteers is done through announcements in centers, clubs, universities and high schools periodically for certain programs.

Fields of voluntary service
Any volunteer can help and work in many fields such as:
Local committees
First aid services
Youth clubs & activities
Teaching
Medical and Social Services
Blood banks

Mission Statement

The goal of the LRC is to disseminate peace, serve the society, and alleviate human suffering with neutrality and without any racial, sexual, social, religious or political distinction.
The LRC carries out the following in accordance of its mission statement:

The LRC acts as an auxiliary to the medical services of the Lebanese Army during armed conflicts, in all fields mentioned in the Geneva Conventions, and provide help for all the victims of war whether military or civilians. The LRC is also involved in making necessary emergency preparations and acts as an auxiliary to the public health services in all the fields mentioned in the Geneva conventions during peace.

Participates in efforts aiming at improving health, preventing disease and alleviating the suffering of all people through rehabilitation and solidarity programs that meet the needs on both national and local (community) levels.

Organizes urgent (emergency) relief services for the victims of all kinds of disasters.

Recruits volunteers and trains them to accomplish different tasks appointed to the LRC.

Encourages the participation of children and youth in the LRC activities.

Disseminates the Fundamental Principals of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and the International Humanitarian Law in order to spread the spirit of peace, understanding and respect among the people, especially the youth and children.