HISTORY AND PRINCIPLE OF GHANA RED CROSS

Until the middle of the 19th century there was no organized and well established army nursing
systems for casualties and no safe and protected institutions to accommodate and treat those
who were wounded on the battlefield. In June, 1859 a Swiss businessman called Henry Dunant
travelled through northern Italy. His intention was to travel and meet the French Emperor
Napoleon III to discuss some business in Algeria which was at the time occupied by France. On
the eve of 24th June, 1859 Henry Dunant arrived in the small village of Solferino in northern Italy
where he witnessed a horrible battle. This is commonly known as the battle of Solferino. The
battle was between Italy and France on one hand against Austria. In a single day of the battle
there were about 40,000 dead and wounded soldiers left unattended to on the battlefield.
Henry Dunant was shocked by the terrible aftermath of the battle. There were the suffering of
wounded soldiers and near total lack of medical attendance and basic care. He organized the
local population to give assistance to the wounded soldiers and buried the dead.
When Henry Dunant returned to his hometown in Geneva, he wrote a book entitled “The
Memory of Solferino” in 1862. In the book, he gave a vivid description of his experience in
Solferino and advocated the formation of a voluntary relief organization to help nurse wounded
soldiers in times of war. In addition, he called for the development of international treaties to
guarantee the neutrality of protection of those wounded on the battlefield as well as the
medical workers and field hospitals.

INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEE OF THE RED CROSS

In February 1963 Henry Dunant founded a 5 member committee. Their aim was to examine the
feasibility of Dunant’s ideas and to organize an international conference about the possible
implementation of the ideas of Dunant. The members of the committee were Henry Dunant,
Gustave Moynier, Dr Louis Apia, Theodore Maunoir and Gen. Gullaume Henri Duffour. The five
men named the committee for the Amelioration of the wounded in Battlefield. In 1964, the
name was changed to the International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC).

INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE RED CROSS AND RED CRESCENT SOCIETIES

In 1919, the league of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies were formed by Henry P. Davidson.
The formation of the league is an additional international Red Cross organization alongside the
ICRC was not without controversy. The founding of the league was seen as an attempt to
undermine the leadership position of the ICRC within the movement. The International
Federation of The Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is a global humanitarian
organization which coordinates and directs international assistance to natural and man – made
disasters in non- conflict situations. Its main mission is to improve the lives of vulnerable people
by mobilizing the power of humanity. The IFRCS works with national societies in responding to
catastrophes around the world. Its relief operations are combined with development work,
including disaster preparedness, health care and the promotion of humanitarian values.

EPIGRAMATIC HISTORY OF GHANA RED CROSS SOCIETY

 1929: It starts as the League of Maternal and Child Welfare.

 It was founded by Dr. Selwyn Clarke
 The league consisted of mothers, teachers, nurses and housewives
 The aim of the league was to promote the welfare of pregnant and nursing mothers care
of infants and cleanliness of homes.
 In 1932 the name was changed to the Gold Coast Branch of British Red Cross
 In 1958 the name was again changed to Ghana Red Cross Society when the country
became an independent state
 The Society was established by an art of parliament (ACT 10 of 1958)

HUMANITY
The Red Cross, born of a desire to bring assistance without discrimination to the wounded on
the battlefield, endeavors in its international and national capacity to prevent and alleviate
human suffering wherever it may be found. It purpose is to protect life and health and to
ensure respect for human being. It promotes mutual understanding, friendship, co-operation
and lasting peace among all peoples.

IMPARTIALITY
It makes no discrimination as to nationality, race, religious beliefs, class or political opinion. It
endeavors only to relieve suffering, giving priorities to the most urgent cases in distress.

NEUTRALITY
In order to enjoy the confidence of all, the Red Cross may not take sides in hostilities or engage
at any time in controversies of political, racial, religious or ideological nature.

INDEPENDENCE
The Red Cross is independent. The National Societies with the auxiliaries in the humanitarian
services of the governments and subject to the laws of the respective countries, must always
maintain their autonomy s that they may be able at all times to act in accordance with Red
Cross Principles.

VOLUNTARY SERVICE
The Red Cross is a voluntary relief organization not prompted in any manner by design to gain.

UNITY
There can be only Red Cross in any one country. It must be open to all. It must carry on its
humanitarian work throughout its territory.

UNIVERSALITY
The Red Cross is a world-wide in which all societies have equal status and share equal
responsibilities an duties in helping each other.

BASIC RULES OF INTERNATIONAL HUMANITARIAN LAW (IHL)

 Persons hors de combat and those not taking part in hostilities shall be protected and
treated humanely
 It is forbidden to kill or injure an enemy who surrenders or who is hors de combat
 The wounded and sick shall be cared for and protected by the party to the conflict of
which has them in power. The emblem of the Red Cross or the Red Crescent must be
respected as a sign of protection.
 Captured combats and civilians must be protected against acts of violence and reprisals.
They shall have the right to correspond with their families and to receive relief.
 No one shall be subjected to torture, corporal punishment or cruel or degrading
treatment.
 Parties to a conflict and members of their armed forces do not have unlimited choice of
methods and means of warfare.
 Parties to a conflict shall at all times distinguish between the civilian population and
combatants. Attacks shall be directed solely against military objectives.
 The Laws of Geneva was directly inspired by the principle of humanity. It relates to
those who are participating in the conflicts as well as military personnel’s hors de
combat. It provides the legal basis for protection and humanitarian assistance carried by
impartial humanitarian organization such as the ICRC. This focus can be found in the
Geneva conventions.
BANDAGING
Bandage is a piece of material that is used to support dressing or provide support to the body.

PRINCIPLES OF BANDAGING

 Before applying bandaging reassure the casualty and explain clearly what you are going
to do.
 Make the casualty comfortable, a sitting situation or a lying position.
 Keep the injured part supported while you are working on it. Ask the casualty or the
helper to do this.
 Always work at the front of the casualty, and from the injured side where possible.
 If the casualty is lying down, pass the bandages under the body’s hollows at the ankles,
knees, waist and neck.
 Apply the bandages firmly, but not so tightly that they with circulation to the areas
beyond the bandage.
 Leave the fingers or toes on a bandaged limb exposed, if possible, so that you can check
the circulation afterwards
 Use the reef knot to tie bandages. Ensure that the knots do not cause discomfort, and
do not tie the knots over a bony area. Tuck loose ends under a knot if possible
 Regularly check the circulation in the area beyond bandages.

USES OF BANDAGES

 To secure dressing
 To control bleeding
 To support and immobilize limbs
 To reduce swelling in an injured part

TYPES OF BANDAGES

 ROLLER: They are made of various materials such as cotton, gauze and elastic. When
partly unrolled, the roll is called the head (bum) and the unrolled part, the free end
(tail). There are three types of roller bandages.
1. Open-ware or gauze: They are used to hold dressings in place. Because of their loose
weave they allow good ventilation, but they cannot be sued to exert pressure on the
wound or to give support joints.
2. Elasticated bandages: They are used to secure dressing and support soft tissue injuries.
3. CREPE: They are used to give firm support to injured joints
METHOD OF APPLICATION OF ROLLER BANDAGE
There are principal methods of applying the roller bandage
1. THE SIMPLE SPIRAL: It must be used when the part of the body to be bandaged is of
uniform thickness, for example the finger or wrist and a short portion of the forearm
above it. The bandage is carried in a spiral direction.
2. THE REVERSAL SPIRAL: It is made up of a number of spiral turns in which the bandage is
reversed downwards upon itself at each circuit of the limb. This is used in bandaging
part of the limbs where owing to their varying thickness, it is impossible to make a
simple spiral.
3. THE SPICA: It is form of figure of eight in which one turn is very much larger than the
other. It is used for joints at right angles to body, such as the shoulder, groin, and
thumb.
4. THE FIGURE OF 8: It is for bandaging the limbs and covering the joints. It consists of
series of loops encircling the part of the form in figure of eight, the upper loops being
completely hidden by the successive turns and the lower loops forming the pattern,
each covering two-thirds of the proceeding loop crossing in the same line.
5. TRIANGULAR BANDAGES: This type of bandage may be in a sterile pack of the first aid
kit. You can also make one by cutting or holding a square metre of sturdy fabric (such as
linen or calico)
The bandage can be used in the following ways:

 Folded into a broad folded bandage to immobilize a limb or secure a splint or bulky
dressing
 Folded into a narrow bandage to immobilize feet and ankles or hold a dressing in
position
 Used directly from a pack and folded into a pad form a sterile dressing
 Opened to form a sling, or hold a hand, foot or scalp dressing in place
 For fanning a fainted casualty.

ARM SLING
This supports the forearm and hand and is used in cases of fractured rib, in cases of wound and
fractures in the upper limbs, and in cases of fractures of the forearm when splints are used.
To apply an arm sling, face the casualty and put one end of the spread out triangular bandage
over casualties shoulder on the side with the points towar5ds the injured side, pass it round the
neck so that it appears over the shoulder of the injured side and let other end hang down in
front of the chest. Carry the point behind the elbow of the injured limb and place the forearm
over the middle of the bandage so that it is at right angles to the upper arm; then carry the
second end up to the first and tie them in the hollow just above the collar bone. When the
bandage has been applied, the base should be at the foot of the little finger nail so that all the
fingers are exposed.