The search was performed on 27 November 2015. The authors identified guidelines from this database using the following search strategy (‘advanced search’ function): keyword from title: guideline* keyword from record: guideline*. Having established the ‘Centre for Evidence-Based Practice’ about 10 years ago (and which later became a reference centre of the IFRC), specialising in guideline development according to the ‘Evidence-Based Practice’ principles, the Belgian Red Cross took the initiative to make this analysis.Ī list of the IFRC publications is available in the IFRC online library catalogue ( ).

The Belgian Red Cross is one of the 190 members of the IFRC. The present study has been initiated and performed by the Belgian Red Cross. Given the importance of guidelines in an organisation such as the IFRC, the objective of this study is to appraise the quality of the guidelines developed by the IFRC. 2–4 In recent times, however, international organisations such as the WHO and some non-governmental organisations such as Médecins Sans Frontières have adopted a more rigorous and well-structured guideline development process, whereby the guidelines are based on the latest available scientific evidence. In the past, guidelines developed by humanitarian and development agencies did not usually adhere to rigorous quality assessment standards. Over the years, the IFRC has published dozens of guidelines, guidance series, etc, to assist and guide the millions of volunteers and staff in their work. The role of the secretariat in Geneva is to coordinate and mobilise relief assistance for international emergencies, to promote cooperation between National Societies and to represent these National Societies in the international field. The IFRC carries out relief operations to assist victims of disasters, and combines this with development work to strengthen the capacities of its member National Societies. It is an organisation with more than 17 million active volunteers and 427 000 paid staff, serving 182 million people annually. Founded in 1919, the IFRC comprises 190 member Red Cross and Red Crescent National Societies, a secretariat in Geneva and more than 60 delegations around the world. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is the world's largest humanitarian organisation, providing assistance without discrimination as to nationality, race, religious beliefs, class or political opinions.

Red cross weight chart