FAQs
General FAQS
What is the worst disaster the Red Cross has ever dealt with?
Who founded the American Red Cross?
Why are symbols other than a red cross used by other National Societies within the Movement?
Where can I give blood?
How can the Red Cross help me?
Who founded the Red Cross?
Is the American Red Cross part of the U.S. government?
Why won't the Red Cross accept small, individual donations or collections of items such as clothing, food, or cleaning supplies - doesn't every little bit help?
How old do you have to be to babysit?
Can I get Continuing Education Units (CEU)for my Red Cross courses?
Is it safe to use AED in the rain, snow or on ice?
I lost (washed) my certificate. How do I get another one?
How can a company arrange for first aid training for its employees?
How old do you have to be to take a Red Cross Lifeguarding course?
Military FAQs
U.S.Armed Forces have highly skilled medical staff as part of their fighting force, why does the American Red Cross send its members into battle?
Why can't the military provide for communication between members of the armed forces and thier families, instead of the Red Cross?
Why doesn't the American Red Cross provide the same services for the public as it does to members of the armed forces?
What is the role of Red Cross workers with the military in time of conflict?
General FAQs
What is the worst disaster the Red Cross has ever dealt with?
The natural disaster with the highest death toll in U.S. history was the Galveston, Texas, hurricane of 1900 in which an estimated 6,000 people were killed. Clara Barton, founder and president of the American Red Cross in 1900, gathered a team and traveled by train from Washington, D.C., to Galveston as soon as she heard the news of the disaster to provide relief.
Hurricane Katrina, which made landfall on August 29, 2005, is the most expensive single, natural disaster in the organization's history to date and necessitated the largest mobilization of Red Cross workers for a single relief operation. In the weeks and months that followed that devastating storm and two subsequent severe hurricanes-Rita and Wilma-that struck the Gulf Coast states during the 2005 Atlantic Hurricane Season, more than 233,000 Red Cross workers were activated and/or deployed to provide shelter, food, water and other immediate necessities for millions of storm survivors. Ninety-five percent of those workers were volunteers. As the response to Hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Wilma shifted from emergency relief to providing recovery assistance, cost estimates for the operation reached $2.1 billion.
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Who Founded the American Red Cross?
Clara Barton (1821-1912) dominates the early history of the American Red Cross, which was modeled after the International Red Cross. She did not originate the Red Cross idea, but she was the first person to establish a lasting Red Cross Society in America. She successfully organized the American Association of the Red Cross in Washington, D.C., on May 21, 1881. Created to serve America in peace and in war, during times of disaster and national calamity, Barton's organization took its service beyond that of the International Red Cross Movement by adding disaster relief to battlefield assistance. She served as the organization's volunteer president until 1904.
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Why are symbols other than a red cross used by other National Societies within the Movement?
Although the red cross is not a religious symbol, some societies view it as such. The symbol of the red crescent is used instead of the red cross by societies in most Islamic countries; and the Magen David Adom, or Red Shield of David, is used in Israel.
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Where can I give blood?
Individuals wishing to make a blood donation to the Red Cross may call their local Red Cross Blood Services office or call 1-800-GIVE-LIFE.
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How can the Red Cross help me?
The Red Cross is committed to saving lives and easing suffering. This diverse organization serves humanity and helps you by providing relief to victims of disaster, both locally and globally. The Red Cross is responsible for half of the nation's blood supply and blood products.
The Red Cross gives health and safety training to the public and provides emergency social services to U.S. military members and their families. In the wake of an earthquake, tornado, flood, fire, hurricane or other disaster, it provides relief services to communities across the country. The Red Cross is America's most trusted charity, and it needs the support of compassionate Americans to succeed.
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Who founded the Red Cross?
The Red Cross idea was born in 1859, when Henry Dunant, a young Swiss man, came upon the scene of a bloody battle in Solferino, Italy, between the armies of imperial Austria and the Franco-Sardinian alliance. Some 40,000 men lay dead or dying on the battlefield and the wounded were lacking medical attention. Dunant organized local people to bind the soldiers' wounds and to feed and comfort them. On his return, he called for the creation of national relief societies to assist those wounded in war, and pointed the way to the future Geneva Conventions.
In October 1863, The International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement was created in Geneva, Switzerland, to provide nonpartisan care to the wounded and sick in times of war. The Red Cross emblem was adopted at this first International Conference as a symbol of neutrality and was to be used by national relief societies. In August 1864, the representatives of 12 governments signed the Geneva Convention Treaty. The extraordinary efforts of Henry Dunant led to the eventual establishment of the International Red Cross. Today, the Red Cross Movement incorporates the Geneva-based International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (the International Federation), as well as National Societies in 175 countries, including the American Red Cross of the United States
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Is the American Red Cross part of the U.S. government?
The American Red Cross functions independently of the government but works closely with government agencies, such as the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), during times of major crises. It is responsible for giving aid to members of the U.S. Armed Forces and to disaster victims at home and abroad. It does this through services that are consistent with its Congressional Charter and the Fundamental Principles of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement allowing the Red Cross to stay neutral and impartial.
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Why won't the Red Cross accept small, individual donations or collections of items such as clothing, food, or cleaning supplies - doesn't every little bit help?
The Red Cross does not accept individual donations of material items (called "in-kind" donations) because receipt of such items can actually hamper relief efforts. The financial and personnel cost of receiving, sorting, transporting goods and ensuring the quality and cleanliness of items donated by individual households is very high. It does not allow for individuals and families to receive what they uniquely need in their own size and shape.
The traditional method of providing Red Cross assistance is with a voucher, redeemable at local stores and paid for with donation dollars, that enables victims to purchase what they need in the correct sizes and in accordance with their own taste. Making even these small decisions helps individuals begin to take control of their lives and their recovery. In addition, this process helps channel money into the local economy and thus aids the community in recovery from disaster. The Red Cross does accept large corporate donations of food, bottled water and other items needed by the disaster-affected communities.
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Training FAQs
How old do you have to be to babysit?
Participants must be 11 years of age by the last scheduled course date to receive a certificate for American Red Cross Babysitter's Training. This age was selected as most states require children to be 11 before they can be left alone for short periods without adult supervision. However, local or state regulating agencies may have different age requirements to be able to babysit. Check with your local child welfare, child protective services, health department and/or police. You may receive different answers, so ask for a written copy of the statutes and or regulations that pertain to your location.
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Can I get Continuing Education Units (CEU) for my Red Cross courses?
The American Red Cross national headquarters does not issue Continuing Education Units. However, some participants have been able to obtain CEUs for completing Health and Safety Services courses by contacting the appropriate state certifying agency for their profession. Your local Red Cross may have more information.
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Is it safe to use an AED (Automated External Defibrillator) in the rain, snow or on ice?
AEDs can be used in a variety of environments including rain, snow and ice. Always use common sense when using an AED and follow the manufacturer's recommendations. Generally, the victim should not be in a puddle of water, nor should the rescuer be kneeling in a puddle of water when operating the AED. If it is raining, steps should be taken to ensure that the victim is as dry as possible and sheltered from the rain. Ensure the victim's chest is wiped dry. Minimize delaying defibrillation though when taking steps to provide for a dry environment. The electrical current of an AED is very directional between the electrode pads. Manufacturers state that AEDs are very safe when all precautions and manufacturer's operating instructions are followed.
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I lost (washed) my certificate. How do I get another one?
If you took an American Red Cross course and you need a replacement certificate, contact the chapter where the training was conducted. To find the chapter, use the zip code or website locator. You can help the chapter process your request, by providing information about the training (location, date, instructor's name, and your name).
CPR certificates are valid for one year from the course completion date. First aid and Lifeguard Training certificates are valid for 3 years. If more time has passed than the certificate is valid for or if the chapter cannot locate your record of training, take another class to get recertified. Challenge the course (just skills and written exam) if you remember everything. Take a full course if you need time to relearn or practice the skills before testing.
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How can a company arrange for first aid training for its employees?
Contact your local American Red Cross to arrange first aid training for your employees. The Red Cross offers a variety of training programs for your workplace. Select from our core courses including Workplace Training: Standard First Aid and Adult CPR/AED. Then choose from our supplemental modules: Ergonomics; Slips, Trips, and Falls; Back Injury Prevention; Workplace Violence Awareness; Managing Stress; and Your Heart Matters. We also have a Workplace HIV/AIDS Program that includes Spanish language materials with facts about HIV transmission and prevention that are written specifically for the workplace.
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How old do you have to be to take a Red Cross Lifeguarding course?
You need to be at least 15 years old by the last scheduled class date to take the Red Cross Lifeguarding course. If you're 11- to 14-years old and interested in future work as a lifeguard, you can take GuardStart: Lifeguarding Tomorrow. We also offer other programs of interest to lifeguards, such as Waterfront Lifeguarding, Waterpark Lifeguarding, Automated External Defibrillation, and Oxygen Administration.
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Military FAQs
U.S.Armed Forces have highly skilled medical staff as part of their fighting force, why does the American Red Cross send its members into battle?
In 1905, the U.S. Congress granted a charter to the American Red Cross that required it to act "in accord with the military authorities as a medium of communication between the people of the United States and their armed forces." Since then, the Red Cross has provided communications and other humanitarian services to help members of the U.S. military and their families around the world. Living and working in the same difficult situations and dangerous environment as U.S. troops, Red Cross staff have given comfort to soldiers thousands of miles from home by providing emergency messages, about deaths and births, for example, comfort kits and blank cards for troops to send home to loved ones.
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Why can't the military provide for communication between members of the armed forces and thier families, instead of the Red Cross?
Assisting the American people to communicate with their family members serving in the Armed Forces was a mandate from the U.S. Congress to the American Red Cross many years ago. The majority of family members needing this assistance live in civilian communities far removed from military installations and many do not know how to reach a family member stationed in the military. They can and do, however, call their local Red Cross chapter where workers are available around the clock to assist.
Over 95% of the family emergencies requiring the presence of a military service member begin back home with the death/serious illness of a father, mother, grandparent or other close relative. Once the local Red Cross has verified all details relating to the emergency, information is sent to the service member stationed anywhere worldwide. The family may want this information shared with military commands that will decide if the service member will be granted emergency leave to come home. Commanders overseas and on ships at sea frequently require Red Cross verification before emergency leave is granted.
Military leaders are the first to say they do not have the capacity to verify and validate family emergencies or to get in touch with families back home. They turn to the Red Cross for this information, which is frequently transmitted over the Department of Defense (DOD) communications systems from one Red Cross worker to another.
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Why doesn't the American Red Cross provide the same services for the public as it does to members of the armed forces?
With the exception of emergency communication services, the Red Cross does provide the same services to both military and civilian populations.
Military service is unique, frequently separating families for extended periods of time and often placing loved ones in harms way. Red Cross emergency communication services keep families in this unique situation connected when a problem develops back home.
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What is the role of Red Cross workers with the military in time of conflict?
The Red Cross mission is to keep the American people in touch with their family members serving in the armed forces. To accomplish this work, Red Cross workers frequently deploy on assignment with military forces to keep the communication link operational around the clock and around the globe. Other Red Cross services are made available to military personnel on an as needed basis just as they are in the civilian communities.
