The Russian Red Cross (RRC) is expanding its training programs in first aid and other critical skills for residents of high-risk regions. In 2025 alone, more than 840 such workshops were held in the Kursk, Belgorod, and Voronezh regions, in which over 26,000 people took part.
First aid training remains a cornerstone of the RRC’s mission, particularly in the country’s border regions. These practical workshops enable citizens to not only acquire basic knowledge but also master response protocols for emergency situations.
Besides, the RRC’s regional branches are implementing programs to build supplementary safety skills for emergency situations. For instance, the RRC’s Belgorod regional branch, in collaboration with the All-Russian Student Rescue Corps, organized training for local residents on how to start and connect backup power generators. With the persistent threat of power outages, these practical skills have become critical.
In the Kursk region, the RRC places a special emphasis on working with children and adolescents. Last May, the RRC’s Kursk regional branch launched an educational program for schoolchildren focused on mine safety and first aid, given the persistent threats in border areas. The training includes a theoretical component with visual aids and practical sessions using simulators, with a primary focus on personal safety and behavioral protocols in high-stress situations. More than 100 sessions were held under this program last year; in 2026, the training will continue and may be scaled up to other regions.
In the Voronezh region, the focus is on practical first aid training for primary school teachers. Specialists from the Russian Red Cross and the Voronezh Regional Clinical Center for Disaster Medicine organized a course completed by approximately 1,400 teachers. Of these, 172 achieved the instructor status and are now qualified to train their colleagues. To conclude the program, participants passed an exam, demonstrating skills in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) as well as aid for bleeding, burns, and trauma to a professional jury.
