Insurance for volunteers
Insurance for volunteers
Volunteers of the Finnish Red Cross are protected by national insurance policies that supplement the volunteer's own insurance. These insurance policies are valid in all FRC volunteer tasks.
In the event of damage or injury occurring during FRC activities, the volunteer's own insurance policies (e.g., accident, life, and home insurance) are primary. The FRC national insurance for volunteer activities supplements these and comes into use when a volunteer's own insurance does not cover the damage.
National insurance for FRC volunteer activities:
1. Personal accident insurance for volunteer activities (IF, SP3552326)
Covers accidents occurring during volunteer activities, such as sudden and external events that cause an injury.
2. Liability insurance for the organisation's activities (LocalTapiola, 312-1044074-3)
Covers damages where a volunteer, through their activities, causes harm to another person or their property.
Who is insured?
All volunteers participating in FRC volunteer activities are insured, including:
- Participants in competence mapping and work-life orientation periods.
- Those involved in Youth Shelter activities.
- Volunteers participating in joint cooperation events of the Voluntary Rescue Service (Vapepa) member organizations. (Note: the insurance does not include the internal activities of individual Vapepa organizations.)
In which situations is the insurance valid?
The insurance covers all volunteer tasks organized by the FRC and related:
- meetings
- training sessions and courses
- exercises
- collections
- camps
- volunteer tasks at Kontti second-hand shops
- volunteer tasks at Youth Shelters
Additionally, the insurance is valid during direct travel to and from these tasks.
Patient insurance for healthcare professionals in volunteer activities
The FRC has a separate patient insurance policy for healthcare professionals who act as volunteers in FRC tasks.
Patient insurance protects the volunteer in situations where treatment or a procedure performed during FRC activities causes a patient injury.
Further information can be found in the separate instruction: Suomen Punaisen Ristin vakuutus vapaaehtoisina toimiville terveydenhuollon ammattihenkilöille.pdf (in Finnish)
In the event of an accident, proceed as follows:
If an accident happens to a volunteer or they cause damage during FRC activities:
- Look after safety, first aid, and ensure the person receives treatment.
- Report the incident to your own branch or the activity organizer.
- Complete a claim form for the insurance company according to the operating instructions.
- Save all necessary documents, such as receipts, certificates, and any witness statements.
- If necessary, contact a district employee for advice on further actions.
Detailed reporting instructions can be found in the attachment:
Additional materials
Vakuutusinfo 2025 vapaaehtoisten vakuutukset.pdf (in Finnish)
Frequently Asked Questions regarding insurance for volunteers
Yes, the insurances are also valid outside of Finland's borders.
Yes, the insurances are valid in Åland.
Volunteers are insured in all FRC activities.
The age of the volunteer does not matter. What is essential is that the activity is FRC volunteer work.
Participants in FRC volunteer activities are insured at events. An event is defined as an event or occasion organized and supervised by the policyholder. Consequently, club and camp activities are also covered by insurance when the activity is organized and supervised by the FRC.
a. Finnish citizenship? The insurance is valid.
b. A form of identification accepted in Finland? The insurance is valid.
c. Any form of identification? The insurance is valid. The lack of identification is not an issue for If, but it may be an issue for the healthcare provider.
d. Citizenship of any country (stateless)? The insurance is valid; this is not an issue for If, but it may be an issue for the healthcare provider.
e. A Finnish residence permit/right of residence? The insurance is valid; this is not an issue for If.
f. Online banking credentials or a bank account? This is not an issue for If, but it may be an issue for the healthcare provider.
g. A personal identity code? This is not an issue for If, but it may be an issue for the healthcare provider.
h. The possibility to pay any costs resulting from the accident themselves at the time of the event? In this situation, the policyholder, i.e., the FRC, should first pay the costs themselves and then apply for compensation from If. An open invoice cannot be sent directly to If.
Standard outdoor activities and hobbies such as walking in nature, cycling, swimming, skating, canoeing and outdoor basketball or football trials are included in the insurance coverage.
High-risk sports and activities refer to the following: combat, martial arts, or self-defense sports; recreational or scuba diving; motor and motorboat sports; glacier trekking; aviation sports such as parachuting, hang gliding, paragliding, gliding, hot air ballooning, bungee jumping, and flying ultra-light or amateur-built aircraft; mountain, rock, or ice climbing; speed, downhill, and off-piste skiing/snowboarding, as well as freestyle.
In the group accident insurance, those insured are FRC volunteers in activities organized by the FRC. In the case of a friend activities client, their own accident insurance or statutory health insurance applies.
Note that injuries sustained by clients can be processed through liability insurance if the FRC has been negligent (e.g., volunteer negligence) in the resulting accident. The insurance company evaluates the situation based on the investigation.
If the fall was caused by the negligence of an FRC volunteer, the matter may potentially be processed through liability insurance. The deductible for liability insurance is €2,000. If the volunteer is not negligent, and no blameworthy conduct or resulting liability for damages is found, the liability insurance will not provide coverage.
Municipalities and cities have insured the students during the school day. The FRC's insurance does not apply to students. The FRC's insurance covers the volunteer working in the school.
The FRC has not separately insured the property of volunteers. The starting point is that everyone is responsible for insuring their own property. Volunteers can use their own home or travel insurance.
The volunteer accident insurance covers the repair costs of eyeglasses, hearing aids, dental prostheses, and safety helmets broken during use in connection with an accident requiring medical treatment. If repair is impossible, the costs for an equivalent replacement are covered. Additionally, the insurance covers clothing damaged in connection with providing first-aid type treatment.
If there was a safety deficiency on the premises, such as slippery conditions, the matter could potentially be processed through liability insurance, which however has a €2,000 deductible. If the volunteer has fallen and the FRC is not negligent or liable for damages, the liability insurance will not cover the damage. The volunteer accident insurance does not cover eyeglasses.
Damages caused to the vehicle or caused by the vehicle are processed through the aforementioned vehicle’s motor liability and comprehensive (kasko) insurance.
Questions regarding online activities
The insurance covers pure financial loss caused to a natural person based on the Data Protection Act, the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), or legislation issued thereunder.
The essential factor is that the accident occurs during FRC volunteer work and that the definition of an accident is met.
Liability insurance does not cover any damage or cost caused by or related to a cyber attack.
However, within the scope of the insurance terms, pure financial loss caused to a natural person is compensated based on the Data Protection Act, the EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), or legislation issued thereunder.
The FRC's insurance does not cover the personal property of the volunteer.
Liability insurance does not cover the damage because it is considered damage caused to the organization itself (as the volunteer acts on behalf of the FRC).
Liability insurance covers personal injury, property damage, and financial loss to third parties for which the FRC is liable for compensation under applicable law.
The volunteer accident insurance is valid outside the borders of Finland as well.
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