RedR home page

What you can do now

Training
Would you benefit from additional training? - RedR runs a wide range of courses and so do other organisations - check which courses also count towards Continuing Professional Development in your profession.

Reference library
Consider building up your own reference library of useful manuals etc. – many are now available in electronic as well as hard copy - compare with the RedR list.

Equipment
Consider building up your own mini-tool kit and office - see sample the packing list for some suggestions.

Information
Try to follow the news about humanitarian disasters - an understanding of the history of a disaster is invaluable on the ground - beware, humanitarian disasters are not always reported well nationally, so consider, for instance, regularly tuning in to an international radio station (BBC World Service, Voice of America, Radio France International, etc.) and visiting web sites such as ReliefWeb.

Family, friends, colleagues and the boss
Remind them from time-to-time that you may leave on an assignment.

Will
Write one and then keep it up-to-date.

Pension / Superannuation
How will you keep up your contributions while on assignment?

Power of attorney
Discuss with your solicitor/bank, sign an indefinite/long term one now or ensure that one can be drawn up very quickly later

Passport
It should be valid for at least another year and have sufficient pages for visas; some countries insist on having a full clear page for their visa and insist that the passport is valid well beyond the intended visit. Consider applying for a second passport if allowed.

Driving License
It should be valid for at least another year - do you intend to go abroad often enough and for long enough periods that it is worth holding an International Driving License?

Photographs
Maintain a stock of at least 10 passport size photographs - you can never have too many for visas, ID cards, contracts etc..

Insurance
Check that any insurance policies you have (mortgage, life, personal accident, personal effects, cash etc.) will not be invalidated by accepting a RedR assignment especially in a conflict zone. See also insurance.

Health
Discuss the possibility of your going on assignment with your doctor. Check and keep a record of your blood group. Keep your vaccinations up-to-date for as wide a range of countries as possible - some courses of injections have to be taken over a period of some months (e.g. Hepatitis B) while others can not be given at the same time as each other, so they can not all be done at the same time at the last moment! - see vaccination advice. Make sure you always have a spare set of glasses/contact lenses. Keep your dental checks and work up-to-date.