Martijn Haas, first aid worker at the beach post of the Red Cross in Scheveningen
Reading time 5 minutes
The first aid post of the Red Cross Haaglanden in Scheveningen is open again. Last year, 44 volunteers treated 577 beach accidents between June and September, ranging from minor cuts to more serious cases. For 23-year-old Martijn - who has been active as a Red Cross volunteer for five months - it is his very first day on the beach. Full of energy, he starts his shift that lasts from 11:00 to 18:00. This is what his day looks like.
11:00
START OF THE WORKING DAY
The sun shines brightly on Scheveningen beach. Together with the first aid workers Ton and Fem, Martijn starts his first shift at the beach post. Martijn has no idea what the day will look like. He expects, given the weather, that he will at least put on some plasters, but that he, for example, will not have to help victims with heat stroke.
11:30
GETTING TO KNOW THE SECURITY PEOPLE
A female security officer of the boulevard comes by to get acquainted. She says that she is often asked whether there is also a first aid post on the beach. She likes the idea that the Red Cross beach post will be open every weekend from May.
12:00
THE FIRST PLASTER OF THE DAY
It is a fact! The first wounded of the day. A young lady has cut her finger and comes by to ask for a plaster to treat the cut. Martijn helps her by applying a plaster to the cut.
12:30
CATCHING UP WITH A COLLEAGUE
In between, Martijn catches up with Ton. Ton has more than 20 years of experience as a first aid instructor. He has experienced many things and tells Martijn what to expect from the beach season. In the coming period it will be busier on the beach and therefore also at the Red Cross beach post.
13:25
STAYING COOL
It is very hot around this time of the day. It is important that your body receives enough fluids. While enjoying a slice of watermelon, the volunteers sit down in the shade to catch up while they wait for the next visitor to come. Martijn learns a lot from his colleagues. They both have years of experience and Martijn is eager to learn a lot from them.
14:10
JELLYFISH BITE
A woman comes by with a sore foot. It looks like she fell victim to a jellyfish. Martijn immediately gets to work by scraping away any stinging cells and dabs her foot with hot water.
15:05
ANSWERING QUESTIONS
Martijn is curious to hear which questions are often asked by visitors of the beach post. Fem says that in addition to asking for help, tourists often come by with other kind of questions. For example, they want to know where to find a toilet and ask questions about the environment. That is why it is useful if you speak several languages.
16:35
APPLYING A QUICK BANDAGE
Martijn applies an emergency bandage to a wound. In the past year, it appeared that treating wounds takes second place in the top three of relief efforts. Martijn therefore expects that he will have to treat more victims with wounds in the coming period.
17:20
LAST PLASTER OF THE DAY
Applying plasters is undisputedly at the top of the list of requests for help. A 5-year-old girl comes along with her parents. She has a cut under her knee. She thanks Martijn with a big smile and an even bigger hug.
17:30
THAT'S WHY YOU DO IT
According to Martijn, this is one of the reasons why he became a volunteer with the Red Cross. The best thing about being a volunteer is that he can help people in need. His first day at the beach went well; he looks forward to helping out more often at the Red Cross post.