S10 · Emergency Room
Acute care around the clock
The emergency room is open around the clock — including weekends and public holidays. Patients with acute injuries and life-threatening conditions are admitted, stabilised and given initial treatment here. The next steps are then decided: outpatient care, referral to the operating theatre or inpatient admission.
In the field, the emergency room must be ready for a mass casualty event at any time. Procedures are trained regularly, and protocols are kept up to date. When necessary, patients are referred to partner facilities.
On 3 June 2025, for example, 184 wounded people arrived at the Red Cross Emergency Hospital in Rafah within a very short period of time — victims of a mass casualty event linked to food distributions. In an active conflict zone, even safe access to the hospital — for patients and rescue workers alike — can become a challenge.
"A hospital cannot operate in isolation. Ambulances must be able to reach the wounded, and patients need safe access to other facilities." — Grace Osumo, Hospital Manager at the Red Cross Emergency Hospital in Rafah (clearance pending)