MediaCorp staff among 19 Red Cross volunteers heading for Sri Lanka
By Dominique Loh, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 06 January 2005 1856 hrs

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SINGAPORE : The Singapore Red Cross will be sending its first contingent of helpers to tsunami-hit areas with the first group heading to Sri Lanka.

Among the volunteers is a staff member from MediaCorp.

It won't be the first time MediaCorp's Serena Sim has volunteered to help out in a disaster relief effort.

But this latest 11-day trip to Trincomalee in Sri Lanka will be her most challenging by far.

And it shows in the way she packs.

She is bringing everything from light sticks, water purification tablets, clothes and even a pair of army boots.

Ms Serena said: "The moment on the 26th when I heard about the tsunami, I told my parents I might be activated. My parents were okay and they gave their blessings, they're kind of scared but very encouraging...my bosses and colleagues have been so supportive they have been like "You go girl!" that kind of thing."

She said everyone in her team had been trained in first aid, CPR and other disaster responses.

She will be helping to build makeshift clinics among other tasks like helping medical officers in her team.

The volunteers have also prepared themselves with up-to-date developments by watching television news reports.

"We tell ourselves that it's something that has happened and the main goal is to help out whatever we can, say a little prayer for whoever we see," she said.

The Red Cross estimates the volunteers will attend to at least 10,000 people in Sri Lanka alone.

Another group of Red Cross volunteers will be going to Aceh.

Meanwhile, the Singapore Red Cross has raised $25m for the tsunami victims, including the Singapore Government's million dollar contribution to the fund. -CNA

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