An emergency medical worker (right) demonstrates first aid for choking at Changxing Railway Station in Huzhou, Zhejiang province, on Jan 20, 2026. [Photo/IC]

A Zhejiang team representing the Red Cross Society of China won the Innovative First Aid and Resuscitation challenge at the inaugural First Aid World Cup 2026 in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, on Aug 25.

The competition featured three challenges: Innovative First Aid and Resuscitation, Scenario-Based First Aid and Resuscitation Response, and Public Awareness Campaign. A total of 162 teams from 85 Red Cross and Red Crescent National Societies took part in regional qualifiers, with 16 advancing to the global finals.

Entrusted by the Red Cross Society of China, the Red Cross Society of China Zhejiang Branch formed the team for the innovation challenge. The team qualified for the global finals after finishing first in the Asia-Pacific regional qualifier in July.

At the final, the team presented Zhejiang's community-based first-aid volunteer model and answered questions from judges.

Introduced across Zhejiang in July 2025, the program recruits village and community officials, community workers, volunteers, and others to form first-aid teams and establish a rapid community response network before ambulances and other professional medical assistance arrive.

By the end of July, Zhejiang had recruited 172,100 volunteers under the program, which covered more than 90 percent of the province's villages and communities.