The Salvation Army is currently offering free translation services to the victims of Asiana Airlines Flight 214, which crashed at San Francisco International Airport last Saturday. The accident left more than 180 injured passengers, many of whom need translation services to talk to health care providers and government officials.
Translators and Their Functions
The flight, inbound from Seoul, South Korea, transported 214 passengers to San Francisco, United States. The translation services are then being provided in Mandarin, Cantonese and Korean, according to reports from Salvation Army officials. Translators currently serve a variety of purposes: they are accompanying passengers to the hospital to help them communicate with health care providers, they are aiding communication between them and the government officials and are also providing emotional support to the victims.
The Importance of Translation
The ability to communicate properly during stressful episodes or emergencies is crucial. When there is a language barrier between the members involved, translation services are required to ease the burden of communication and help rescue procedures. To ensure accurate communication between those in need and those trying to provide assistance is important for the success of the procedures.
Further Assistance
The Salvation Army is also providing family assistance operations for the 214 passengers who were on board Asiana Airlines Flight 214 and their respective families. In its Family Assistance Center, the organization has created a clothing room to help the stranded passengers. The location of the clothing room has not been disclosed to help respect the privacy of the victims, who have already been through intense media coverage of the accident which took place on Saturday.
The Salvation Army Organization
The Salvation Army is an international Christian organization with more than 1.5 million members. Since its origins in 1865 in London, United Kingdom, the organization has grown until its current presence in 126 countries. It is involved in running charity shops and shelters for the poor, and from providing extra emergency assistance in case of disasters.