On October 23, 2023, La Poste issued a block of 3 postage stamps, entitled “Becoming a volunteer first aid worker at the French Red Cross”.
The French Red Cross “acts to unconditionally protect and relieve people in vulnerable situations and build, with them, their resilience”. It is its reason for being, its driving force, which guides our actions and which makes tangible our founding principles which are humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, volunteerism, unity and universality. .
Faced with the multiplication and diversification of crises, faced with uncertainty, we are all vulnerable. We must therefore learn to better anticipate and prepare together, but also adapt to bounce back better in the face of difficulties. Mutual aid and social bonds are crucial for taking action and developing the resilience of individuals and populations.
Designating all rescue and assistance missions for people in danger, first aid at the French Red Cross is: an establishment in all the departments of the territory, a requirement of its level of training, significant logistical and human resources, as well as increased public assistance. In 2022, the Red Cross was able to count on 8,500 first responders and 9,157 first aid volunteers, as well as 7,069 rapid aid operations and 10,466 interventions.
Approved for civil security, the French Red Cross also contributes, throughout the year, to the coverage of general public events by putting in place provisional emergency systems (DPS). 12,467 first aid stations were therefore provided, in 2022, by volunteer first responders, almost all volunteers, whose main missions consist of protecting, rescuing and alerting.
La Poste and the French Red Cross partners since 1914
Since 2006, more than 27 million euros have been donated by La Poste to the French Red Cross to finance numerous international, national or local actions carried out in the fields of health, humanitarian and social action.
The repayment of this surcharge contributed to the implementation of numerous French Red Cross projects in various fields of activity, including:
- The rise of first aid actions, either through the creation of first aid activity itself (as in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence) or through the modernization of equipment (in Lens for example), but also for enable the French Red Cross network to renew its equipment and renovate its premises intended for training in life-saving actions
- The deployment of itinerant systems throughout France with Croix-Rouge sur Roues, a multi-service structure reaching out to vulnerable groups who do not have the means to travel to the association's fixed units.
- The development of support systems linked to hygiene, so important for self-esteem. For example, solidarity laundry (providing people in vulnerable situations with a space where they can wash their laundry) or the Solidouches project (which allows vulnerable groups to access hygiene) also allows those supported to find a friendly space for reception, listening and guidance.
- The creation of Alzheimer’s Respite Relaxation Centers in Normandy and Hérault. These non-medical reception centers offer activities adapted to people with Alzheimer's disease and allow caregivers to take time for themselves. A temporary takeover centered on listening and sharing, to maintain a social bond that is unfortunately too often altered by illness and break the exclusive face to face between the caregiver and the care recipient.
- The improvement of reception and activity conditions in numerous local units of the French Red Cross, for example the food aid unit of the Epinal and Montauban branch or the vestiboutiques of Pontarlier, from Mayotte, Quimper, Caux Vallée de Seine, etc.
- The provision of transport adapted to elderly people and residents of French Red Cross structures, to promote their autonomy and maintain social ties, such as for example in the Tours region or in Yvelines.
