Red Cross Blogs

Help is just a step away

By Alix Miller
July 1, 2009 at 12:08 pm

I love working at the Red Cross but sometimes being on the 6th floor of our London office feels a bit remote from the work we do in the field. While we tap away on our computers here striving to spread the British Red Cross message our 23,000 volunteers are hard at work on the ground. They are administering and teaching first aid, supporting refugees, lending medical equipment to those in need, relieving suffering all over the world following disasters amongst many other things.

However, one fine evening recently, I had a personal experience that put me very firmly in touch with the work we do.

I had decided to walk from my home in west London to a fundraising bash for Ace Africa – a small charity – in Chelsea. It was a gorgeous evening and armed with a pair of trainers under my party dress (and heels in my handbag) I was making good progress.

I marched up one busy road, when I suddenly noticed an elderly man bent double over his zimmerframe. At first I thought he was stationary but then I realised he was shuffling forward with agonizingly slow progress. I went over to ask if he needed any help – he looked so vulnerable.

He glanced up and smiled with what seemed like a superhuman effort and said: “Thanks dear. I’m just trying to get to the pub for some dinner. I need to hail a taxi.”

We were on a busy one-way street at the height of rush hour, during a tube strike..I was doubtful. “Well let me try and get one for you,” I offered. We stood on the pavement with traffic and people racing past and not a single taxi appeared.

After a while the man said: “It’s no good. Don’t worry, I’ll have to walk there – it’s only round the corner.” I guessed even if it was round the corner, that at the man’s current walking speed he’d be lucky to make it there by last orders.

I managed to persuade him to wait for a cab for a bit longer and eventually, after about 15 minutes I managed to flag one down. It then took another 15 minutes for the man to get inside. He pushed his zimmerframe inside but then got stuck in the doorway, with one foot in, one out, grasping the door frame for dear life. Luckily the taxi driver was sympathetic and in no hurry.

At one point a couple of men came by who recognised the man and offered to help. One told me the man’s name was Michael and that he had been an army major and was fiercely independent. As Michael finally managed to get in the cab for a much-needed sit down, I remembered our very own transport service and told Michael about it and how it could help him get about more easily, not to mention save him money on black cabs.

I gave him my number so I could help put him in touch with the relevant people, and sincerely hope he calls. Luckily the taxi driver was a kindly sort, although he smiled wryly when he drove off with his frail cargo, and said: “You might have got him in… but I’m not sure I’m going to be able to get him out.”

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Comments (4) »

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Tags: disaster, First aid, fundraising, medical equipment, transport service

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This entry was posted on Wednesday, July 1st, 2009 at 12:08 pm and is filed under Health and social care. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

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