{"id":217602,"date":"2024-02-16T15:56:47","date_gmt":"2024-02-16T13:56:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.monaco-tribune.com\/2024\/02\/monegasque-red-cross-record-number-of-first-aiders-trained-in-monaco\/"},"modified":"2024-02-16T16:16:24","modified_gmt":"2024-02-16T14:16:24","slug":"monegasque-red-cross-record-number-of-first-aiders-trained-in-monaco","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.monaco-tribune.com\/en\/2024\/02\/monegasque-red-cross-record-number-of-first-aiders-trained-in-monaco\/","title":{"rendered":"Monegasque Red Cross: record number of first aiders trained in Monaco"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

In our second article reviewing the Monegasque Red Cross’ year in 2023 and looking ahead to future projects, Monaco Tribune looks at the humanitarian actions carried out by the organisation within the Principality.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n\n

At the beginning of each year, the Monegasque Red Cross (MRC) reviews the actions carried out the previous year, on Monegasque soil and beyond. With a record 700 volunteers, the MRC is omnipresent in Monaco and, in 2023, a large share of its budget, about \u20ac8M, was allocated to its local operations. <\/p>\n\n

Starting with the welfare aspect, “one of the MRC’s flagship activities,”<\/i> as its Secretary General, Fr\u00e9d\u00e9ric Platini, pointed out. In Monaco, Beausoleil and Cap d’Ail, the charity helps 500 households each year through Ticket Service, cheques that can be given out to people in financial difficulties and used as payment vouchers in many stores. “The number one request from these households is food aid,”<\/i> said Fr\u00e9d\u00e9ric Platini, adding, “then help with housing expenses such as electricity bills.” <\/i>In 2023, a third of this aid was distributed in the Principality and the remaining two-thirds in neighbouring municipalities.<\/p>\n

\n
\"\"
Addressing the Monegasque press (from left to right): Yann Bertrand, Administrative Director; Fr\u00e9d\u00e9ric Platini, General Secretary; Danielle Cottalorda, responsible for communication, and Claude Fabbretti, Operational Director of Relief and International Action at the MRC. <\/i>\u00a9 Communication Department<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

“We aren’t seeing a significant increase in the amount of aid, it’s pretty much stable. The only issue we have is that it is always for the same people, who aren’t managing to break the poverty cycle.” <\/i>\u00a0It’s a bleak assessment, and the question of how to get out of a precarious situation “given the current system”<\/i> remains unanswered for now.<\/p>\n\n

Migration crisis, international aid… Monegasque Red Cross activity in 2023\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n\n

Record number of first aiders trained in the Principality <\/h2>\n\n

Another core activity of the MRC is the introduction to and training in life-saving skills. And 2023 was a very positive year on that front. “Some 5,000 people attended an introduction or a training course in first aid. It’s a record,” <\/i>said Claude Fabbretti,\u00a0 Operational Director of Relief and International Action. In proportion to the Monegasque territory and its 40,000 inhabitants, this is a “huge”<\/i> figure.<\/p>\n\n

The Director mentioned the teams of MRC trainers, both volunteers and employees, but also Monaco’s schools’ participation in the training sessions, with the recent addition of the International School of Monaco. “All the youngsters aged around 12, who attend school in Monaco, follow the PSC1 course,”<\/i> said Claude Fabbretti. This is a 12-hour basic first aid course. Which was supplemented in September 2023 by the launch of an online e-learning platform and an application, called “Premiers Soins”, with reminders of the right actions to take in case of an emergency.<\/p>\n

\n
\"\"
Claude Fabbretti, the MRC’s Operational Director of Relief and International Action<\/i>\u00a0\u00a9 Communication Department<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

As well as the courses in schools, the MRC carried out “mass introductions”, <\/i>\u00a0of which there were many in 2023. The No Finish Line, the Monaco Trott’N’Roll and the drowning prevention operation organised by the Princess Charlene Foundation in November <\/a>are the kinds of events where the MRC can initiate and train up to “300 people”.<\/p>\n\n

While the figures are encouraging, the Operational Director wanted to point out that the MRC “needs financial support” <\/i>\u00a0in order to continue its training activities as effectively as possible. “Many of these introductory sessions take place on weekdays, during school time, and many of our volunteer trainers work. We need to deploy employees or hire temps,” <\/i>he said.<\/p>\n\n