The Peruvian Red Cross is affiliated with the international Red Cross. The Red Cross is founded by Jean-Henry Dunant, a Swiss businessman and philanthropist, who witnessed the death and desolation of the Battle of Solferino in Italy. After which he organized the creation of a body of volunteers to help wounded in the wars, regardless of which side they belong to. This laid the foundation for the Geneva Convention in 1864.
The Peruvian Red Cross arises in Peru in 1879 to help the civil and military wounded caused by the Pacific War between Peru and Chile. Members of the “San Fernando” Faculty of Medicine of the National University of San Marcos create, with the help of the government, they created the “Red Cross Civilian Ambulances in Peru”. On April 30, 1880, the Swiss Federal Council decreed that Peru was incorporated into the Convention and entered the International Red Cross Movement.
The mission of the Peruna Red Cross is to collaborate with the community, especially the vulnerable population of the country, made up mainly of rural population and marginal urban socio-economic strata. She is also concerned about climate change and the impacts it has on people.
Activities of the Peruvian Red Cross
To fulfill its objective of protecting and assisting vulnerable populations in Peru, the activities of the Peruvian Red Cross are divided into three areas: Health and human security, volunteering, and courses and workshops.
Health and security
The Red Cross is dedicated to promoting good hygiene habits and healthy practices to vulnerable populations. The main activities carried out in these matters are:
- Pre-hospital care (first aid, ambulance services).
- Prevention of HIV AIDS, sexual and reproductive health.
- Prevention, care and recovery in emergencies and natural disasters.
- Development of infrastructure and equipment for basic health services (communal kits, medical posts, health care centers).
- Prevention of injuries and fatalities caused by traffic accidents.
- Promotion of voluntary blood donation.
- Public health in general with a focus on health promotion.
- Attention in psychological first aid.
Courses and workshops of the Peruvian Red Cross
The Peruvian Red Cross has 22 years of experience providing courses related to health and the preparation of people in response to emergencies. All courses have international validity. Its main courses are the following:
First aid
They offer 18-hour and 30-hour courses. The objective of the course is to prepare the student to respond to medical emergencies and emergencies. The student will be prepared to evaluate the accident, reduce risk and act according to the severity and type of injury. The main topics covered by this course are:
- Initial assessment of the victim
- Choking bleeding control
- Healing from wounds and burns
- Electrocution
- Different types of bandages
- Poisoning, stings and bites
- Sudden onset diseases (heart attack, fainting, epilepsy, cerebrovascular accidents)
- Fractures and sprains
- Transport of accident victims
- Implementation and management of medicine cabinets
CPR
In 12 hours of the course, the student will learn to recognize the main cardiovascular emergencies and act accordingly. The main topics to play are:
- Choking in adult, child and baby
- Heart disease
- Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation maneuver in adult, child and baby
- Using the AED Defibrillator
- Peruvian Red Cross
Injection therapy
In the 30-hour course, the student will learn to inject drugs into patients through different routes. The topics covered are:
- Principles of pharmacology
- Hypersensitivity
- complications in injectable techniques
- Administration by intradermal, subcutaneous, intramuscular and intravenous routes.
Comprehensive physiotherapy
60-hour course in which the student will be able to provide basic physical therapy care for people with different degrees of disability to improve their quality of life. The topics covered are:
Postular alterations: Scoliosis, kyphosis, low back pain
Geriatric Rehabilitation: Rheumatologic Syndromes, Osteoarthritis, Arthritis, and Osteoporosis
Neuralgic diseases: Strokes, Parkinson’s.
Traumatological pathologies: Fractures in wrists and hips, amputees.
Rehabilitation in the child: normal and pathological psychomotor development, cerebral palsy.
Pain Syndromes: muscle, joint and nervous system.
Soft tissue injuries: tears, strains.
Prevention of pressure ulcers.
Relaxation breathing exercises.
Masotherapy Technique
60-hour course in which the student will learn different types of massage for people with pathologies caused by stress, poor posture and diseases. The types of massages given are: anti-stress, toning, aesthetic, reducing, Thai, express and hand and foot reflexology massages.
Infant and Child Care (BABYSITTERS)
The course has a duration of 60 hours whose objective is that the participant can take care of an infant from birth to all childhood. The emotional and physical foundations of this work are taught. The theme of the course is as follows:
- Newborn care
- Breastfeeding
- Infant feeding
- Infant’s Bath
- Children’s health: vital signs, temperature, pulse, children’s breathing, vaccines, teething
- Early stimulation
- First aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation for infants and children.
Care in the Elderly
70-hour course in which the student will learn how to care for an older adult, knowing their physiological processes and main pathologies, so that they can improve their quality of life and minimize the risks associated with their age. The curriculum for this workshop is as follows:
- Food and nutrition.
- Nasogastric tube care.
- Control of vital signs.
- Hygiene and general bathroom.
- Care of patients with bladder and intestinal diffusion.
- Patients with motor disabilities.
Other courses of the Red Cross
- Control of vital signs: Duration 12 hours
- Techniques for applying venoclysis (phleboclysis): Duration 12 Hours.
- Blood sampling workshop: Duration 18 hours
- Fire Extinguisher Management
- Evacuation / Signaling