Safety in volunteering

Red Cross actors work in varying environments, ranging from public spaces to closed institutions. Understanding the local security situation is important to minimize risks and increase the possibility of completing the humanitarian task.

In the majority of Finnish Red Cross activities, risks are at an everyday level, meaning that actors face the same risks as any ordinary citizen. Finnish Red Cross local branches carry out many domestic aid tasks, such as basic care during evacuations, providing psychosocial support to accident victims and their relatives, searching for missing persons, or other activities supporting the authorities during or immediately after accidents. In a local branch, the domestic aid contact person is responsible for domestic aid. Each Finnish Red Cross district has a head of preparedness whose duties include coordinating preparedness activities within the district.

It is important for the Red Cross to ensure a safe operating environment for its volunteers, aid recipients, and employees. The organization operates with equality, in accordance with the Data Protection Act, and has zero tolerance and specific guidelines regarding racism, bullying, corruption, as well as sexual harassment and molestation.

Every Red Cross volunteer should be able to:

• take their own and others' safety into account during activities
• avoid dangerous situations as a Red Cross actor
• act correctly in a dangerous situation
• understand what constitutes the safety of a Red Cross actor
• understand how safety routines can prevent accidents

In addition, the tasks for those serving as volunteers in charge are to:

• ensuring safe operations and guiding volunteers to act safely
• preventing dangerous situations in Red Cross activities
• creating a safe operating culture and planning safe activities and events
• knowing the Red Cross guidelines for promoting safe operations (prevention of sexual harassment, safe environment for minors, filing a child protection notification, data protection, ethical operating guidelines)

Basic principles of safety at the Red Cross:

• The most important safety actor is you. You are primarily responsible for your own safety.
• Act in accordance with Red Cross values and principles. Remember that when you act, you represent the entire Red Cross.
• Ensure that you have up-to-date instructions for the task as well as sufficient and appropriate equipment.
• Leave any threatening or dangerous situation. Seek help if necessary.
• Adapt your behavior to the situation, act calmly, and be polite to everyone. Encourage other volunteers. Act in a manner appropriate to the situation. Do not provoke or be provoked.
• Monitor your environment for potential risks. Report any dangerous situations or safety-related matters you encounter. See: The threat and danger situation tool for volunteers.
• Use Red Cross symbols in your activities. Be clearly identifiable. Dress appropriately. Use the Red Cross symbol correctly.
• Remember your own wellbeing; a helper who is poorly rested after an excessively long aid stint is a poor helper.
• Confidential matters should not be heard by outsiders or those being helped. Wait for a suitable time and place to discuss difficult matters. If necessary, contact the person responsible for the activity.
• Remember Red Cross values and principles in your own communication, as well as securing the identity of those being photographed. Particular care must be taken regarding minors and asylum seekers.