IFRC Global First Aid Reference Centre

👏 Congratulations to the Mauritanian Red Crescent's new First Aid Trainers of Trainers! ⛑️

During an official ceremony, Pascal Cassan, Medical Director of the Global First Aid Reference Centre (GFARC), and Caroline Cross, President of the French Red Cross, presented the Trainer of Trainers certificates to Youba Diallo and Mohammed Ishagh, in the presence of the Secretary General of the Mauritanian Red Crescent.

This certification recognises the successful completion of the GFARC Training of Trainers (Level C programme). After completing their teaching experience and meeting all the programme's competency and assessment criteria, both participants have officially qualified as First Aid Trainers of Trainers.

The Training of Trainers course leading to this achievement was held in Thiès, Senegal, at the end of 2025 as part of the Occupational First Aid in West Africa Project. Funded by the French Red Cross and the Monaco Red Cross, the project brought together participants from Mauritania, Niger, Senegal and Burkina Faso, strengthening regional capacities and fostering collaboration across National Societies in the region.

👏 Congratulations to Youba Diallo and Mohammed Ishagh on this well-deserved achievement. The GFARC wishes you every success as you begin training and mentoring the next generation of First Aid monitors (level B)

Croissant Rouge Mauritanien
IFRC Global First Aid Reference Centre
Croix-Rouge française

🩹Strengthening the financial sustainability of National Societies through Commercial First Aid is a key priority for the Global First Aid Reference Centre.

From 12 to 19 June, the GFARC had the opportunity to pilot test the first tools of the Commercial First Aid Toolbox with the Moroccan Red Crescent. Through a strategic workshop in Rabat, collective working sessions, and visits to the Casablanca and Marrakech regional committees, participants exchanged experiences and tested practical tools from the Commercial First Aid Toolbox that the GFARC is currently developing.

These sessions provided valuable feedback for the further refinement of the Toolbox and turned out into an opportunity to support the Moroccan Red Crescent in strengthening its business model and Commercial First Aid activities, but also to bring together teams around a shared vision for the future of first aid services via the drafting of a national action plan on commercial first aid.

Thank you to all those who contributed to these rich exchanges. We look forward to seeing the continued development of commercial first aid services in Morocco. 🇲🇦

🌡️🏠 Heat Action Day 2026 : Indoor Heat

As we mark Heat Action Day today, let's raise awareness about the dangers of indoor heat and the importance of protecting our health in the places where we spend most of our time.

While record-breaking temperatures outdoors make headlines, people are often most affected by heat inside homes, hospitals, care facilities, schools, workplaces, vehicles, and other indoor spaces where temperatures can sometimes be even higher than outside. ☀️

Extreme indoor heat can worsen existing health conditions, increase the risk of heat-related illnesses, affect mental health, and disrupt sleep. ❤️‍🩹

💧 Simple, low-cost actions can help keep you cool:
✔️ Take a cool shower
✔️ Soak your feet in cool water
✔️ Drink cold water regularly
✔️ Use a fan, misting fan, or evaporative cooler
✔️ Wear lightweight natural-fibre clothing
✔️ Sleep with a damp sheet

🤝 Don't forget to check on older adults, people with chronic illnesses, and those with limited mobility during periods of extreme heat. A simple call or visit can make a real difference.

📥 To support awareness-raising efforts, heatwave awareness posters are available for download on the IFRC Global First Aid Reference Centre platform in English, French, Spanish, and Arabic: https://www.globalfirstaidcentre.org/resource/heatwave-awareness-posters/

Together, let's raise awareness and take action to make indoor spaces safer and more resilient to extreme heat.

🎉⛑️ Congratulations to the Lithuanian Red Cross ! ❤️

The Lithuanian Red Cross Society has successfully obtained the International First Aid Attestation (IFAA), awarded by the IFRC Global First Aid Reference Centre (GFARC) in May 2026.

This attestation recognizes that the National Society’s first aid training programme is aligned with the latest IFRC First Aid, Resuscitation and Education Guidelines, demonstrating a strong commitment to quality, consistency, and continuous improvement in first aid education.

👏 A heartfelt thank you to the Lithuanian Red Cross teams for their dedication and professionalism throughout the process, and to Grégory Jouvion, IFAA Representative, for his valuable support and guidance.

This achievement is another important step towards ensuring that more people have access to high quality, life saving first aid training. ❤️👐


Lietuvos Raudonasis Kryžius / Lithuanian Red Cross
IFRC Global First Aid Reference Centre
International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies

📱 The Global First Aid Reference Center (GFARC) took an important step forward in advancing digital first aid solutions by supporting the Vanuatu Red Cross Societyin the deployment of the Universal First Aid Application (UFAA) in their country.

The UFAA is an accessible tool that supports continuous first aid learning, helping people maintain their knowledge and strengthen community resilience. Testing the app in real-life conditions, and gathering immediate feedback, allows us to work towards implementing effective digital tools that are grounded in local realities.

The mission also focused on strengthening internal capacities by delivering technical training to the Vanuatu Red Cross SocietyIT team and supporting the development of an initial action plan.

🔗 You can learn how this initiative is shaping the future of first aid accessibility and digital transformation worldwide: https://www.globalfirstaidcentre.org/supporting-universal-first-aid-app-activities-with-vanuatu-red-cross-society/

Download the app now, with this application, accessing knowledge of first aid techniques has never been easier!
IOS : https://apps.apple.com/us/app/first-aid-ifrc/id1312876691
Android : https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.cube.gdpc.fa