Patiala- Before 1863, there were no international laws or rules in the world governing the protection, rescue, assistance, treatment and repatriation of soldiers injured or killed during war. Therefore, there were no institutions or laws to provide first aid to injured soldiers. The enemy countries used to starve and kill the prisoner soldiers so that those soldiers could not return and harm the enemy countries.
But God and nature chose Bhai Ghanaiya Ji and Mr. Jean-Henri Duona, a resident of Switzerland, to help the soldiers in the interest of the country's freedom, prosperity, progress, security, honor and protection. With the blessings of Shri Guru Gobind Singh Ji, Bhai Ghanaiya Ji and his companions saved thousands of soldiers from death by providing them water and first aid and allowed them to return to their homes and families. The International Red Cross Society was founded in 1863 in Geneva, Switzerland to ban the use of nuclear, chemical and atomic weapons in wars around the world, as these chemical, nuclear and atomic weapons cause the painful death of millions of people in a matter of hours.
Then, each country has to spend billions of rupees to destroy humanity by purchasing and manufacturing nuclear, chemical, atomic bombs and warplanes, missiles, tanks and ammunition used during wars. Whereas with that money, humanity can be made prosperous, safe, healthy and happy with facilities of security, health, sanitation, hygiene, clean environment, education and employment.
Help can be provided to save the lives and property of soldiers and civilians and prisoners of war who are injured during the war. To help the citizens affected by natural or man-made disasters, wars and epidemics, the Red Cross Society trains volunteers at the district and tehsil level through training exercises and mock drills, so that they are ready to help the victims.
All these have been adopted internationally by 192 countries of the world during the Red Cross Geneva Conventions. In 1859, in a fierce one-day battle between the armies of four countries in Salferino, about 32,000 soldiers were killed and 40,000 soldiers were badly injured and suffered on the battlefield. At that time there was no proper arrangement for first aid or medical assistance for the injured soldiers.
Only the injured soldiers were treated in hospitals or TAT. At that time, Swiss citizen Sir Jean Henry Dunant went there to meet the then king. He started helping the injured soldiers with the help of the people and students of Lambadari village. About 20 days later, he went home and wrote a book, 'A Memory of Salferino' and sent it to the kings, ministers, religious and political leaders of his and neighboring countries.
In which he expressed the devastation of the war, the pain and suffering of the dead and injured soldiers. He wrote that 40,000 wounded soldiers were helped, due to which 22,000 soldiers were saved from death, but 18,000 soldiers kept dying in agony in front of them. If they had more trained nurses and medicines, the dead could have been saved.
He appealed that wars should not be fought and if they have to be fought, then teams of volunteers should be ready to go to the battlefield and help, protect, rescue, honor and prosper the wounded soldiers. During the conference held in 1863, valuable humanitarian suggestions given by Jean-Henri Dunant were accepted and ideas were shared regarding the name of the newly formed organization and its independent flag.
The Swiss national flag was being hoisted in that hall, so it was decided to change the colors of the Swiss flag to make it the flag of our society, so a red cross was made on a white cloth because the Swiss flag is a white cross on a red cloth. That is why it was named International Red Cross Society. Sir Jean Henry Dunant was made its president. The 7 principles of the Red Cross were formulated from time to time at national-level Red Cross meetings. Which is still certified. According to the four Geneva Conventions, during war, Red Cross volunteers will assist wounded soldiers on land and at sea. Providing food, water, medical and other facilities to imprisoned soldiers according to their rank. And their return home. During epidemics and natural disasters, Red Cross volunteers help the victims by providing them shelter, food, water and medical treatment.
According to the treaties, no military or terrorist attack will be made on buildings, vehicles, doctors, nurses and volunteers bearing the symbol or flag of the Red Cross, because the Red Cross, as a humanitarian charity institution, is working to protect, rescue and assist the wounded, sick and people in distress without any discrimination. The headquarters of the International Red Cross Society is currently in Geneva.
192 countries are its associate members. In place of Red Cross Society in Muslim countries, Red Crescent Societies are working to protect and help humanity according to the principles, principles and traditions of the Red Cross. According to the 7 principles, the Red Cross prepares students, teachers, citizens and employees to serve humanity in times of crisis as Red Cross volunteers by providing training in First Aid CPR and Home Nursing.
While the UNO is also a voluntary organization, it does not have volunteers but representatives of countries as its members. Although the Red Cross Society has the right and honor to help the victims during war, epidemic, natural or human disasters at the international level, the Red Cross can only ask the political authorities of the countries to save humanity with humility, tolerance, patience and peace, but it cannot be stopped by force.
100 years ago, after the First World War, the British established the Indian Red Cross Society in 1920. But at this time the Red Cross, Junior Red Cross, Youth Red Cross and First Aid CPR, Home Nursing activities and training programs are closed in Punjab. Whereas in the rest of the states of the country and other countries of the world, more work is being done by the Red Cross Societies than by the governments.