 | |
| Founded | 1353 AH (1934) |
|---|---|
| Founder | King Abdulaziz Al Saud |
| Type | Humanitarian Aid |
| Focus | Humanitarian aid |
| Location | |
Area served |  Saudi Arabia |
| Method | Aid agency |
| Website | Saudi Red Crescent Authority |
The Saudi Red Crescent Authority (SRCA; Arabic: هيئة الهلال الأحمر السعودي) is a humanitarian society that provides emergency medical services in five administrative regions of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It was founded in 1934 under the name Saudi Red Crescent Association, which was later amended to Saudi Red Crescent Authority in 2008.[1] By 2009, the Society had 447 First Aid Centers, run by 5,507 staff, with 1300 ambulances which are distributed in all hospitals and centres around the country. The Red Crescent has a particular role to play during Hajj (the annual pilgrimage to Mecca), providing on-the-spot first aid and using its fleet of vehicles (1300 in 2009) to take emergency cases to the nearest medical facility.
The Saudi Red Crescent Authorities offer medical service of first aid to those in the kingdom in ordinary circumstances and at time of catastrophes. The Authority contributes relief work inside the Kingdom and abroad. In 2009, the Saudi Red Crescent Authority launched the Saudi Air Ambulance, a fleet of helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft.
- ^ Talal AlShammari, Paul Jennings, and Brett Williams. (2017) Evolution of emergency medical services in Saudi Arabia. Journal of Emergency Medicine, Trauma and Acute Care: Vol. 2017 1, 4.