احمد سلطانی

INTRODUCTION: In the first half of April 2019, heavy rains in central and western parts of Iran resulted in great floods. The rains affected 24 provinces and caused extensive damage to urban and rural infrastructure. Since Iran, especially the northern, western, and southern provinces of Iran are prone to floods, the floods are expected to occur every year in many provinces. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the needs and problems of the Red Crescent Society in different provinces of Iran in response to the great flood of Iran in 2019. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was performed in all provinces of Iran after the end of the flood response operations in April 2017. The required data were collected through a researcher-made questionnaire and interviews with provincial operational managers. The designed questionnaire had different parts about the situation of the provinces in the face of floods, the most important problems faced during floods, and the most important needs for facing floods. Participants were also asked two questions about the information and equipment they should have had before the flood. FINDINGS: Analysis of the answers revealed that 24 provinces (77.41% of the country) were affected by the floods. The most common problems were lack of equipment and low public awareness which were repeated by the subjects 24 and 17 times, respectively. Moreover, the need for specialized equipment and training courses were also the most important needs. CONCLUSION: Based on the findings, the Iranian Red Crescent Society faced many problems and needs during the disaster relief process in the 2019 flood which indicated the lack of a comprehensive plan for flood management in Iran. Therefore, policymakers and disaster managers must develop practical and localized guidelines for relief according to the conditions of Iran in order to achieve the ultimate goal of disaster management which is to reduce deaths, injuries, and financial damages.

INTRODUCTION: Information is known as the main source of power over others. In this respect, the use of correct, accurate, and timely information in decision-making, planning, and other related issues can be effective in the outcome of activities and services provided by organizations. In times of crisis and disaster incidence, information plays a key and crucial role and affects various disaster response processes. This study was conducted to investigate the communication and information processes and information analysis in the Iranian Red Crescent Society at the time of disasters in 2019. METHODS: This qualitative study with a content analysis design was carried out on 17 experts and managers in the Iranian Red Crescent Society. The necessary data regarding the existing information processes were collected through performing interviews with the participants. The collected data from conducting and implementing the interviews were then coded in MAXQDA software using qualitative analysis method and subjected to analysis. FINDINGS: Based on the findings, the majority of the activities of this organization were carried out by holding meetings to make the necessary arrangements. Measures, such as public education and reports to journalists, media, and social networks were provided in the form of written instructions and protocols. It was revealed that such communication means as media, newspapers, 112 emergency SMS system, and Thuraya satellite network were used for information. The tool utilized in the information process in the Iranian Red Crescent Society was the Disaster Management Information System to record information and the history of crises. This system was located and used in the Control and Coordination Center, and recorded all documents related to the events, including photos, videos, and reports and information of rescuers.

INTRODUCTION: Promoting social responsibility in a relief organization can lead to the development of people's participation in its operations. This study has been conducted with the aim of sociological analysis of the strategies to increase the social responsibility in the Iranian Red Crescent Society (IRCS) with an emphasis on the development of people’s participation in disasters. METHODS: In this qualitative study, the sample population included experts and rescuers of the IRCS. The sampling method was purposeful until theoretical saturation was reached and therefore 22 people were interviewed. The data collected by semi-structured interview and analyzed in three stages of open, axial, and selective coding. The validity of the research was also examined through triangulation. FINDINGS: Based on data analysis, strategies consist of 9 main categories, 51 subcategories and 230 primary codes. In general, after analyzing the data obtained from the research, a paradigm model of strategies for increasing the social responsibility of the IRCS was designed with emphasis on people's participation in disasters. CONCLUSION: In order to increase people’s participation during disasters in the IRCS, it is necessary to educate and promote a humanitarian participatory culture, create an organizational identity, increase the Society’s responsibility towards participants, apply merit management, attention to the implementation of organizational justice and attention to social accountability processes by the IRCS must be considered.

INTRODUCTION: Virtual education and learning exert diverse effects on courses of different natures. Moreover, considering that the prime goal pursued by universities of applied sciences and technology is to focus on skills enhancement, the method of presentation, and the tools used. The teaching method should be designed appropriately and evaluated in terms of effectiveness. The current research, focusing on the effect of virtual education on practical and theoretical courses, seeks to assess the impact of virtual education on the achievement of the goals of the University of Applied Sciences and technology during the Covid-19 pandemic in the Applied Science Higher Education Institute Red Crescent Society of the Islamic Republic of Iran. METHODS: This applied research was conducted based on a descriptive-survey design. The data collection tools were information and data, library resources, and a researcher-made questionnaire. FINDINGS: Based on the results and the means obtained for each item, holding question and answer sessions with the highest number of good and very good items ranked first. On the other hand, uploading videos and photos to the system and providing links to related resources ranked in last place. CONCLUSION: According to the experience of virtual education in recent years following the Covid-19 pandemic, the use of hybrid methods, including online and face-to-face teaching, is recommended for teaching in skill-oriented higher education centers.

INTRODUCTION: Road traffic accidents are a critical global issue, especially in developing countries such as Iran. Mazandaran and Alborz provinces, due to their diverse climatic and topographic characteristics, experience a high rate of fatal accidents, especially on mountainous roads that are often affected by weather and traffic conditions. Therefore, in this study, a spatiotemporal analysis of the relationship between fatal road accidents and environmental factors was conducted to improve RCS rescue and relief operations in the two provinces of Mazandaran and Alborz. METHODS: This study analyzed fatal road accidents from March 2017 to January 2024 using data from the Red Crescent Society (RCS) and the Road Maintenance and Transportation Organization. Accident data were converted into monthly raster files via Kernel Density Estimation and examined using the Space-Time Cube model and Hot Spot Analysis in ArcGIS Pro to identify spatial-temporal accident patterns and their relation to environmental and traffic factors. FINDINGS: Four hot spots and three cold spots patterns were detected across 83 months. Rainfall and flooding significantly affected 16.04% of oscillating and sporadic hot spots. Smooth and semi-heavy traffic conditions were associated with the highest accident percentages (19.45% and 14.01%), while blocked and heavy traffic showed lower accident intensity. Major accident hotspots appeared along the Chalous and Haraz roads and in specific rural districts. Emerging hot spots revealed new risk areas, demonstrating the dynamic nature of accident patterns. CONCLUSION: The Spatio-temporal analysis highlights high-risk areas and provides important insights for improving road safety. These findings can help the Red Crescent Society optimize rescue and relief operations and inform policymakers on infrastructure and traffic management strategies to reduce casualties