Areas such as Beijing and Hebei, Jilin, and Heilongjiang provinces have been affected by flooding to varying degrees. In addition to supplies, volunteers from all over the country are rushing to the affected areas.

Last week, a report from China Central Television revealed after floodwaters hit Zhuozhou, Hebei, over 17,000 volunteers came to help. But flood relief requires technical knowledge and professional training, and blindly running into the fray can pose risks to oneself and others. China Daily interviewed Zhou Yahui, an aquatic rescue instructor at the China Association for Disaster Prevention, to find out more about the training needed to become a disaster relief volunteer.