soccorso

Soccorso is the Italian noun for rescue, aid, or assistance provided to someone in danger, illness, or distress. It derives from the verb soccorrere (to help or rescue) and is widely used in the context of emergency response and humanitarian relief.

In Italy, soccorso refers to a network of organizations and services that deliver medical and rescue assistance. Emergency medical services are organized around the 118 system for medical emergencies, with dispatch centers coordinating ambulances and specialized teams. The term is also used in the names of rescue bodies such as the Corpo Nazionale Soccorso Alpino e Speleologico (CNSAS), which handles mountain and cave rescue, and various volunteer and public associations, notably Croce Rossa Italiana (Italian Red Cross) and Associazione Nazionale Pubbliche Assistenze (ANPAS). The Protezione Civile (Civil Protection) coordinates disaster response at national and local levels.

Operations described as soccorso include first aid, stabilization of patients, extraction from dangerous environments, transport to hospitals, search and rescue, and disaster relief. Both professional personnel and volunteers perform soccorso duties, often after training in first aid, CPR, trauma care, and specialized rescue techniques.

The term also appears in everyday language to denote urgent assistance in emergencies and is used across municipalities to name local rescue services and hotlines. The concept emphasizes rapid response, risk assessment, and coordination among public and private actors to reduce harm.

See also: 118, CNSAS, Croce Rossa Italiana, ANPAS, Protezione Civile, soccorso alpino.