The Impact of Red Crescent First Aid Awareness Campaigns on Improving Emergency Preparedness Among Vulnerable Groups: A Systematic Review for Emergency Professionals and Nursing
Abstract
Background: Vulnerable groups are disproportionately vulnerable to the dangers of emergencies. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and National Societies use first aid awareness campaigns as a central public health intervention to strengthen community resilience and emergency preparedness from the ground level.
Aim: The present review seeks to critically assess the effect of Red Crescent first aid awareness campaigns on enhancing emergency readiness among vulnerable populations around the world, drawing on evidence from the past decade.
Methods: A systematic synthesis of peer-reviewed research (2015-2024), IFRC publications, and applicable case studies was used to explore the effectiveness and operational challenges of such campaigns.
Results: The results always verify that such campaigns significantly improve immediate first aid knowledge and capabilities among the respondents. They also inspire positive behavioral intentions, improve self-efficacy, and foster a broader culture of safety and self-responsibility. The effectiveness of campaigns is hugely moderated by profound socioeconomic obstacles, cultural settings, and logistical limitations in targeting the most vulnerable groups.
Conclusions: Red Crescent first aid campaigns are an effective and cost-saving method of enhancing community emergency preparedness. Their strategic integration into public health, disaster risk reduction (DRR), and universal health coverage (UHC) plans is strongly recommended. Next steps must be innovative, context-specific, and longitudinally focused to maximize impact and overcome current impediments.
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Authors
Copyright (c) 2025 Ahmed Mofareh Alanazi, Swelem Nafea Aqla Alanzy, Saleh Jaber Salamah Alanzi, Mariam Abdullah Mohammed Hadadi, Maryam Naif Alaswad Aloudah, Hosam Hasan Alzhrani , Nowair Al-Homaidi Hassan Al-Qahtani, Mohammed Yahya Abdu Sofyani, Yousef Ramadan Fayadh Al-Enezi
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