FA volunteers sharing in Kathmandu chapter after field operation.

Nepal witnessed long awaited and the first Constitutional Assembly (CA) polls. Nepal Red Cross has made every preparation regarding the first aid to the injured, evacuation of injured and sick through ambulance and provide blood service and as needed throughout the country. In some cases, sub-chapters and Junior/Youth Youth Circles have also managed drinking for the voters. The headquarters has teams mobilized to support the district chapters. The ICRC has also managed teams for back up support to the NRCS teams.

As per the report of this afternoon from the 46 district chapters, NRCS has mobilized 469 First Aid teams with 2,823 trained First Aid Volunteers to respond to the emergency on the day of CA polls. Similarly, 124 ambulance vehicles mobilized and that provided transport service to 25 injured people.

"We have mobilized 31 FA teams with 217 volunteers in the capital and outside the city in Kathmandu district" said Rajaram Shrestha First Aid Focal Person (Volunteer) of the emergency response teams in the chapter. "We have been honestly using our knowledge and skills that Red Cross has provided to us but fortunately, we had just to provide FA service to 4 persons as no significant incident took place in the capital", he added.

Volunteers provided FA service to 62 people injured in the incidents in different districts. Ambulance service was provided to 25 persons and drinking water was supplied by districts chapters, sub chapters and junior/Youth circles in 20 districts.

Kathmandu chapter has managed four teams of FA standby at the district chapter to support the other teams around polling stations. They have been mobilized by sub-chapters. "We in Kathmandu are keeping in touch with neighboring districts, like Lalitpur, Bhaktapur and Kavre districts and if needed, we are ready to support them by all measures", said Sanga Ratna Shakya, Secretary of the chapter.

First Aid volunteers with emergency vehicle ready to move in Lalitpur district chapter.

Lalitpur has mobilized 8 teams with 81 FA volunteers and it has coordinated 18 ambulance operators in the districts ready to serve in assigned area. "We have mobilized two mobile camps for blood collection recently and everyone is supportive to Red Cross initiative", said Baburaja Maharjan, secretary of the chapter. " After our good work in the People's movement II and other times of violence, at every household and doorsteps there are people to love Red Cross", he added.

Everything is closed and no vehicle is allowed to move on the day of CA polls except emergency and security vehicles. About preparedness of blood service, Dr. Manita, Director for Central Blood Transfusion Service (CBTS) said "We have 350 pints in our stock, two social organizations have come to the CBTS and offered us emergency blood donation as and when needed. We have coordination with blood donor associations, we are alert", she added.

In the past, Red Cross would operate emergency services mainly in natural disasters but it stepped in emergency service in times of armed and unarmed conflicts in the country since last decade. Only in Peoples movement II, about 3,500 persons received first aid service from Red Cross volunteers.