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{{short description|American humanitarian organization}}
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{{advert|date=December 2007}}
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[[Image:Poster-red-cross-volunteer-for-victory.jpg|thumb|202px|A WWII-era poster encouraged American women to volunteer for the Red Cross as part of the war effort.]]
{{Use American English|date=June 2019}}
The '''American Red Cross''' (also known as the '''American National Red Cross''') at one time was considered solely a humanitarian organization thats mission was to provide emergency assistance, disaster relief and education inside the [[United States]], as part of the [[International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement|International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies]]. In addition to domestic [[disaster relief]], the American Red Cross had become known internationally for offering careful and credible attention to issues revolving around human rights, while also offering compassionate services in five other areas: community services that help the needy; support and comfort for [[military]] members and their families; the collection, processing and distribution of lifesaving [[blood]] and blood products; educational programs that promote health and safety; and international relief and development programs. In the aftermath of the events of 9/11 the American Red Cross began to curtail it's efforts on behalf of basic human rights. It also allowed itself to become less independent from political pressure and government pressure by forming an official committee called the American Red Cross Cabinet Council which was appointed by President George Bush<ref>http://www.redcross.org/pressrelease/0,1077,0_314_7303,00.html</ref>. As appointed by President George Bush, the American Red Cross Cabinet Council consists of Michael Chertoff, director of the U.S. Department Of Homeland Security, as well as high ranking military officials. The Red Cross also for the first time in it's history agreed to an unprecedented restriction on the organizations freedom of speech rights, and therefore it's ability to communicate to the public at large, in order to gain some form of access to the prisoners at Guantanomo Bay. The organizations' actions of confirming it's ability to gain some access to the prisoners, but it's unwillingness to supplying any important information specific to the prisoner's conditions and treatment at the hands of the U.S. Government, is seen by many as accomplishing for the U.S. Government a defacto validation by the American Red Cross of whatever actions and treatments the prisoners have experienced and are continuing experience.
{{Infobox organization
| name = American Red Cross
| logo = American Red Cross logo.svg
| image = Headquarters building of the American Red Cross, Washington, D.C LCCN2011632232.jpg
| caption = [[American Red Cross National Headquarters]] in [[Washington, D.C.]]
| size = 250
| formation = {{start date and age|1881|5|21}}
| founder = [[Clara Barton]]
| type = [[Charitable organization]]
| tax_id = 53-0196605
| registration_id =
| status = Instrumentality of the United States and a [[body politic|body corporate and politic]]<ref>{{USC|36|300101}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Our Federal Charter |url=https://www.redcross.org/about-us/who-we-are/history/federal-charter.html |access-date=2022-02-28 |publisher=American Red Cross |archive-date=February 7, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220207152007/https://www.redcross.org/about-us/who-we-are/history/federal-charter.html |url-status=live }}</ref> [[501(c)(3) organization]]
| purpose = [[Humanitarian aid]]
| headquarters = [[American Red Cross National Headquarters]]
| location_city = [[Washington, D.C.]]
| location_country = United States
| region_served = United States
| key_people = {{ubl|class=nowrap|[[Gail J. McGovern]]|([[Chairman]])<ref name="auto1">{{cite news|url=https://thenonprofittimes.com/npt_articles/arcs-mcgovern-to-retire-holtz-to-be-new-ceo/|title=ARC's McGovern To Retire, Holtz To Be New CEO|website= the nonprofit times|last1=Clolery|first1=Paul}}</ref>|Clifford S. Holtz|(President & [[Chief Executive Officer|CEO]])<ref name="auto1"/>}}
| main_organ = Board of Governors
| revenue = US$3.4 billion (2022)<ref name="American National Red Cross">{{cite web |title=American National Red Cross |url=https://www.forbes.com/companies/american-national-red-cross/ |work=Forbes}}</ref>
| website = {{URL|www.redcross.org}}
}}
'''The American National Red Cross'''<ref>{{Cite web |date=May 2007 |title=Congressional Charter of the American Red Cross |url=http://www.redcross.org/images/MEDIA_CustomProductCatalog/m4240124_charter.pdf |access-date=November 11, 2015 |archive-date=July 13, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180713021140/http://www.redcross.org/images/MEDIA_CustomProductCatalog/m4240124_charter.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> is a [[Nonprofit organization|nonprofit]] [[Humanitarianism|humanitarian]] organization that provides emergency assistance, disaster relief, and disaster preparedness education in the United States. [[Clara Barton]] founded the organization in 1881 after initially learning of the Red Cross from the country of Switzerland. Barton resigned in 1904 with Mabel Thorp Boardman taking control soon after. It is the designated US affiliate of the [[International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies]] and the United States movement to the [[International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement]].


The organization is involved with and responsible for the aftercare of notable disasters, such as the sinking of the [[Titanic|RMS ''Titanic'']] in 1912, World War I, the [[Spanish flu|Spanish flu pandemic]] of 1918, World War II, [[Hurricane Katrina disaster relief|Hurricane Katrina]], and the [[2023 Hawaii wildfires|Maui wildfires of 2023]].
Governed by [[volunteer]]s and supported by community [[donations]], the American Red Cross is a nationwide network of more than 800 chapters and Blood Services regions, now broken up into divisions, dedicated to saving lives and helping people prevent, prepare for and respond to [[medical emergency|emergencies]]. More than a million Red Cross volunteers and 30,000 employees annually mobilize relief to families affected by more than 67,000 disasters, train almost 12 million people in lifesaving skills and exchange more than a million emergency messages for U.S. military service personnel and their families. The Red Cross is also the largest supplier of blood and blood products to more than 3,000 hospitals across the nation and also assists victims of international disasters and conflicts at locations worldwide. Of the organization's over $6 billion in annual revenues, blood and blood products generate over $2 billion.


The American Red Cross offers services and development programs such as blood donations, plasma and tissue services, and additional research.<ref>{{Cite web |title=What We Do {{!}} Red Cross {{!}} Disaster Relief, Emergency Management |url=http://www.redcross.org/what-we-do |access-date=September 18, 2015 |website=American Red Cross |archive-date=July 19, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180719122054/http://www.redcross.org/what-we-do |url-status=live }}</ref> It has also had a long-standing relationship with the US military, providing emergency and non-emergency services, including family communications and recreation.
The American Red Cross is headquartered in [[Washington, D.C.]] and recently has had fluctuating executive leadership. The Chairman of the Board of Governors, serving her second three-year term, is [[Bonnie McElveen-Hunter]]. The current interim President and Chief Executive Officer is Mary S. Elcano, who replaced her predecessor [[Mark W. Everson]] on 26 November 2007 after his resignation.<ref>{{citation| last=Rucker | first=Philip | url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/11/27/AR2007112701307.html?hpid=topnews | title=Red Cross CEO Everson Ousted | publisher=[[The Washington Post]] | date=[[2007-11-27]] | accessdate=2007-27-11}}</ref> He himself had only been appointed in late May 2007, after another interim leader's stint and after US legislation that clarified the role of the American Red Cross' Board and senior management in the wake of difficulties after [[Hurricane Katrina]].<ref>{{citation| first=Stephanie | last=Strom |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/18/us/18cnd-cross.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin | title=American Red Cross Announces New Chief | publisher=[[The New York Times]] | date=[[2007-04-18]] | accessdate=2007-04-18}}</ref>


{{toclimit|3}}
== Founders ==
[[Image:Lawn1917.jpg|thumb|WWI Red Cross rally at the [[University of Virginia]], May 1917.]]
[[Image:Amredcrossbldg.jpg|thumb|The headquarters of the American Red Cross in [[Washington, D.C.]] was built in 1917 and dedicated "in memory of the heroic women of the [[American Civil War|Civil War]]". It is now a museum.<BR>Coordinates: {{Coor dms|38|53|41.4|N|77|2|23.1|W}}]]
[[Image:Crux Rubra.jpg|thumb|150px|WWI poster "The Spirit of America".]]
The American Red Cross was established on [[May 21]], [[1881]] by [[Clara Barton]], in [[Dansville, New York]] who became the first president of the organization. Barton first organized a meeting on [[May 12]] of that year at the home of [[United States Senate|Sen.]] [[Omar D. Conger]] ([[Republican Party (United States)|R]], [[Michigan|MI]]) <ref>''[http://www.redcross.org/museum/history/charter.asp The Federal Charter of the American Red Cross]'', American Red Cross website. Retrieved [[2007-04-18]]</ref> Fifteen were present at this first meeting, including Barton, Conger, and [[United States House of Representatives|Rep.]] [[William Lawrence (Ohio)|William Lawrence]] ([[Republican Party (United States)|R]], [[Ohio|OH]]) (who became the first vice-president <!--[https://www.trianglearc.org/ARCweb/FD/2001ballreview.htm],LINK NO LONGER WORKS --><ref>McCormick, K. Todd ''[http://www.co.logan.oh.us/museum/Logan_County_History/body_logan_county_history.html A Brief History of Logan County, Ohio]'', Logan County Museum website. Retrieved on [[2007-04-18]]</ref>).


== History and organization ==
[[Jane Delano]] (1862-1919) was the founder of the [[American Red Cross Nursing Service]].
{{See also|American Red Cross National Headquarters}}
{| style="margin:auto"
|[[File:AMERICAN RED CROSS workroom at Pau 16304v.jpg|thumb|upright=1.3|left|American Red Cross workplace, [[Memphis, Tennessee|Memphis TN]], c. 1898]]
|&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
| [[File:1917 Red Cross World War I poster.jpg|thumb|center|upright=0.81917|American Red Cross [[World War I|WWI]] poster]]
|&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
| [[File:American Red Cross issue, 1931.jpg|thumb|upright=0.8|U.S. stamp commemorating Red Cross 50th anniversary, issue of 1931]]
|}


=== Clara Barton ===
=== Founders ===
[[Clara Barton]] established the American Red Cross in [[Dansville, Livingston County, New York|Dansville, New York]], on May 21, 1881, and was also the organization's first president. She organized a meeting on May 12 of that year at the house of [[United States Senate|Senator]] [[Omar D. Conger]] ([[Republican Party (United States)|R]], [[Michigan|MI]]).<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Federal Charter of the American Red Cross |url=http://www.redcross.org/museum/history/charter.asp |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120730005834/http://www.redcross.org/museum/history/charter.asp |archive-date=July 30, 2012 |access-date=April 18, 2007 |website=American Red Cross}}</ref> Fifteen people were present at the meeting, Conger and [[United States House of Representatives|Representative]] [[William Lawrence (Ohio Republican)|William Lawrence]] ([[Republican Party (United States)|R]], [[Ohio|OH]]) (who became the first vice president) to discuss the start of the American Red Cross.<ref>{{Cite web |year=2001 |title=Everyone has a Ball at Rhapsody in Red 2001 |url=https://www.trianglearc.org/ARCweb/FD/2001ballreview.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010713123929/https://www.trianglearc.org/ARCweb/FD/2001ballreview.htm |archive-date=July 13, 2001 |access-date=February 10, 2019 |website=American Red Cross}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=McCormick |first= K. Todd |title=A Brief History of Logan County, Ohio |url=http://www.co.logan.oh.us/museum/Logan_County_History/body_logan_county_history.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060225101010/http://www.co.logan.oh.us/museum/Logan_County_History/body_logan_county_history.html |archive-date=February 25, 2006 |access-date=April 18, 2007 |website=Logan County}}</ref> The first local chapter was established in 1881 at the [[English Evangelical Lutheran Church of Dansville|English Evangelical Lutheran Church]] of Dansville.<ref name="NysNrhpNom">{{Cite web |title=Cultural Resource Information System (CRIS) |url=https://cris.parks.ny.gov/e |url-status=dead |archive-url=http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20190404141934/https://cris.parks.ny.gov/ |archive-date=April 4, 2019 |access-date=November 1, 2015 |publisher=[[New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation]] |format=Searchable database}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
[[Clara Barton]] (1821-1932) had already had a career as a teacher and federal bureaucrat when the [[American Civil War]] broke out. (She started teaching around the age of 15 or 16.) After working tirelessly on [[humanitarian]] work during and after the conflict, on advice of her doctors, in 1869, she went to Europe for a restful vacation. There, she saw and became involved in the work of the [[International Red Cross]] during the [[Franco-Prussian War]], and determined to bring the organization home with her to America.
|url = https://cris.parks.ny.gov/Uploads/ViewDoc.aspx?mode=A&id=36490&q=false
|title = National Register of Historic Places Registration Form: English Evangelical Lutheran Church of Dansville
|access-date = November 1, 2015
|author = Virginia L. Bartos
|format = PDF
|date = March 2013
|archive-date = April 25, 2021
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210425073847/https://cris.parks.ny.gov/Uploads/ViewDoc.aspx?mode=A&id=36490&q=false
|url-status = live
}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Accompanying photographs |url=https://cris.parks.ny.gov/Uploads/ViewDoc.aspx?mode=A&id=36492&q=false |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160423105552/https://cris.parks.ny.gov/Uploads/ViewDoc.aspx?mode=A&id=36492&q=false |archive-date=April 23, 2016}}</ref>


[[Jane Delano]] (1862–1919) founded the [[American Red Cross Nursing Service]] on January 20, 1910.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Haug |first1=Hans |title=Humanity for all : the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement |last2=Gasser |first2=Hans-Peter |last3=Perret |first3=Françoise |last4=Robert-Tissot |first4=Jean-Pierre |last5=Henry-Dunant |first5=Institut |year=1993 |isbn=978-3-258-04719-5 |page=261|publisher=P. Haupt }}</ref>
When Clara Barton began the organizing work in the U.S. in 1873, no one thought the country would ever again face an experience like the Civil War. However, Barton was not one to lose hope in the face of the bureaucracy, and she finally succeeded during the administration of President [[Chester A. Arthur]] on the basis that the new American Red Cross organization could also be available to respond to other types of crisis.


==== Clara Barton ====
As Barton expanded the original concept of the Red Cross to include assisting in any great national disaster, this service brought the United States the "Good Samaritan of Nations" label in the International Red Cross. Barton naturally became President of the American branch of the society, known officially as the American National Red Cross. [[John D. Rockefeller]] gave money to create a national headquarters in [[Washington, DC]], located one block from the [[White House]].
{{Main|Clara Barton}}


Barton founded the American chapter after learning of the [[International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement#Foundation|Red Cross]] in [[Geneva]], Switzerland. In 1869, she went to Europe and became involved in the work of the [[International Red Cross]] during the [[Franco-Prussian War]]. She was determined to bring the organization to America.<ref name="WDL">{{Cite web |year=1907 |title=The Story of My Childhood |url=http://www.wdl.org/en/item/7315/ |access-date=October 9, 2013 |website=[[World Digital Library]] |archive-date=March 30, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210330064618/https://www.wdl.org/en/item/7315/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Biography: Clara Barton |url=https://www.womenshistory.org/education-resources/biographies/clara-barton |access-date=2023-10-26 |website=National Women's History Museum |language=en}}</ref>
Clara Barton led one of the group's first major relief efforts, a response to the Great Fire of 1881 ([[Thumb Fire]]) in the Thumb region of Michigan, which occurred on Sept 4-6, 1881. Over 5000 were left homeless. The next major disaster dealt with was the [[Johnstown Flood]] which occurred on [[May 31]], [[1889]]. Over 2,209 people died and thousands more were injured in or near [[Johnstown, Pennsylvania]] in one of the worst disasters in United States history. She resigned from the American Red Cross in [[1904]].
[[File:Clara Barton1.jpg|thumb|180px|[[Clara Barton]], founder of the American Red Cross]]
Barton became President of the American branch of the society, known as the American National Red Cross in May 1881 in Washington. The first chapters opened in upstate New York, where she had connections.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Marks |first=Mary Jo |title=Clara Barton in Dansville, 1866 and 1876–1886 |url=http://www.dansville.lib.ny.us/clara.html |access-date=July 1, 2009 |publisher=Dansville Historical Society |archive-date=December 25, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161225040937/http://www.dansville.lib.ny.us/clara.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=":1" /> [[John D. Rockefeller]] and four others donated money to help create a national headquarters near the [[White House]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=September 13, 1889 |title=Article |page=1 |work=Cheney Sentinel |location=Cheney, Washington}}</ref> The abolitionist [[Frederick Douglass]], a friend of Barton's, offered advice and support as she sought to establish the American chapter of Red Cross. As Register of Deeds for the District of Columbia, Douglass also signed the American Red Cross's original Articles of Incorporation.{{Citation needed|date=October 2023}}


[[File:American Red Cross Administrative Headquarters.JPG|thumb|American Red Cross Administrative Headquarters in Washington, D.C.]]
==Services==
The next major disaster was the [[Johnstown Flood]] on May 31, 1889. Over 2,209 people died, and thousands more were injured in or near [[Johnstown, Pennsylvania]], in one of the worst disasters in U.S. history.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ohio |first=American Red Cross of Northern |date=2018-05-31 |title=Clara Barton Answers the Call to America's Largest Flood |url=https://nohredcross.org/2018/05/31/clara-barton-answers-the-call-to-americas-largest-flood/ |access-date=2023-11-22 |website=NOHredcross |language=en}}</ref>
===Blood===
[[File:The Hospital Clipper Vol. 4 No. 4, June 1970 (IA hospitalclipper45197007).pdf|alt=ARC Clipper 1970.pdf|thumb|ARC Clipper Circa 1970]]
The American Red Cross supplies roughly 44% of the [[blood donation|donated blood]] in the United States. Community-based blood centers supply 50% and 6% is collected directly by hospitals. In December of 2004, the American Red Cross completed their largest blood processing facility in the United States in [[Pomona, California]] on the campus grounds of the [[Cal Poly Pomona|California State Polytechnic University, Pomona]].


===Tissue services===
==== Progressive reform ====
Many within the organization became frustrated with Barton's leadership style, and Barton resigned from the organization in 1904.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Origins of the Red Cross: National Organization · The Red Cross and Its Nurses in Connecticut during World War I · Digital History 511: Theory & Practice |url=https://library.ccsu.edu/dighistFall16/exhibits/show/the-red-cross-and-its-nurses-i/the-origins-of-the-red-cross-- |access-date=2023-11-22 |website=library.ccsu.edu}}</ref>
For more than twenty years, the American Red Cross provided [[allograft]] tissue for [[transplant]] through sales in its Tissue Services Program. It cared for thousands of donor families who gave the gift of [[tissue donation]] and sold donated tissue to more than 1 million transplant recipients in need of this life saving or life-enhancing gift of tissue. At the end of January 2005, the American Red Cross ended its Tissue Services program in order to focus on its primary missions of Disaster Relief and Blood Services.


Professional social work experts took control and made the group a model of [[Progressive Era]] scientific reform.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Little |first=Branden |date=August 2013 |title=Review of Jones, Marian Moser. ''The American Red Cross from Clara Barton to the New Deal'' |url=https://www.h-net.org/reviews/showrev.php?id=39722 |publisher=H-SHGAPE, H-Net Reviews |access-date=August 20, 2013 |archive-date=April 25, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210425073849/https://www.h-net.org/reviews/showrev.php?id=39722 |url-status=live }}</ref> New leader [[Mabel Thorp Boardman]] consulted with senior government officials, military officers, social workers, and financiers. [[William Howard Taft]] was especially influential. They imposed an ethos of "[[managerialism]]", transforming the agency from Barton's cult of personality to an "organizational humanitarianism" ready for expansion.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Moser Jones |first=Marian |url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1353/book.21077 |title=The American Red Cross from Clara Barton to the New Deal |year=2012 |doi=10.1353/book.21077|isbn=9781421407388 }}</ref>
===Plasma services===
A leader in the [[Blood plasma|plasma]] industry, the Red Cross provides more than one quarter of the nation's plasma products. Red Cross Plasma Services seeks to provide the American people with plasma products which are not only reliable and cost-effective, but also as safe as possible.


Among the notable disasters of the Progressive Era that featured American Red Cross involvement was the sinking of the [[Titanic|RMS ''Titanic'']] in 1912. The New York City chapter joined with the [[Charity Organization Society]] to provide funds to survivors and the dependents of those who perished.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Cimino |first=Eric |date=Spring 2019 |title=Walking Titanic's Charity Trail in New York City: Part One |url=https://www.academia.edu/38628387 |journal=Voyage: Journal of the Titanic International Society |volume=107 |pages=109–110 |access-date=April 17, 2019 |archive-date=January 6, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210106102949/https://www.academia.edu/38628387/Walking_Titanics_Charity_Trail_in_New_York_City_Part_One_Gramercy_Park_and_Madison_Square_Park |url-status=live }}</ref>
In February [[1999]], the Red Cross completed its "Transformation," a $287 million program that: re-engineered Red Cross Blood Services' processing, testing and distribution system; and established a new management structure.


During [[World War Two]], the American Red Cross ran the [[Booker T Washington Service Club]] in [[Sydney]], [[Australia]].
===Nucleic Acid Testing (NAT)===
On [[March 1]], [[1999]], the American Red Cross became the first U.S. blood banking organization to implement a [[Nucleic Acid Testing]] (NAT) study. This process is different from traditional testing because it looks for the [[genetics|genetic]] material of [[HIV]] and [[hepatitis C]] (HCV), rather than the body's response to the disease.


=== Leadership ===
The NAT tests for [[HIV test#Nucleic acid based tests (NAT)|HIV]] and HCV have been licensed by the [[Food and Drug Administration]]. These tests are able to detect the genetic material of a transfusion-transmitted virus like HIV without waiting for the body to form antibodies, potentially offering an important time advantage over current techniques.
Recent presidents and CEO s include [[Gail J. McGovern]], Cliff Holtz, [[Elizabeth Dole]], [[Bernadine Healy]], Mary S. Elcano, [[Mark W. Everson]] and John F. McGuire.<ref name="ARCLeaders">{{Cite web |title=Leaders of the American Red Cross |url=http://www.redcross.org/museum/history/leaders.asp |access-date=August 22, 2011 |publisher=American Red Cross |archive-date=December 30, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071230085412/http://www.redcross.org/museum/history/leaders.asp |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2007, U.S. legislation clarified the role for the Board of Governors and that of the senior management in the wake of difficulties following [[Hurricane Katrina]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Strom |first=Stephanie |date=April 18, 2007 |title=American Red Cross Announces New Chief |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/18/us/18cnd-cross.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin |access-date=April 18, 2007 |archive-date=April 25, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210425073846/https://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/18/us/18cnd-cross.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin |url-status=live }}</ref> Members of the board of governors other than the chairman are elected at the annual meeting of chapter delegates. The board appoints the chief executive officer.<ref>{{Cite web |title=36 U.S. Code § 300104.Board of governors |url=https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/36/300104 |access-date=September 15, 2020 |website=cornell.edu |archive-date=May 14, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210514014329/https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/36/300104 |url-status=live }}</ref> The president and CEOs' overall goal is to execute the Red Cross' strategies and missions to lead and oversee the business activities that the Red Cross partakes in or organizes.


===Leukoreduction===
=== Ranking ===
[[File:American Red Cross Headquarters, Delaware Avenue, Wilmington, Del (72640).jpg|thumb|ARC [[Wilmington, Delaware]]]]
A person's own [[leukocytes]] (white blood cells) help fight off foreign substances such as [[bacteria]], [[viruses]] and abnormal cells, to avoid sickness or disease. But when transfused to another person, these same leukocytes do not benefit the recipient. In fact, these foreign leukocytes in transfused [[red blood cells]] and [[platelets]] are often not well tolerated and have been associated with some types of transfusion complications.
As of April 2023, the American Red Cross scores four out of four stars at [[Charity Navigator]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Overall Score & Rating |url=https://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm?bay=search.summary&orgid=3277 |access-date=November 30, 2017 |publisher=Charity Navigator |archive-date=April 22, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210422153853/https://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm?bay=search.summary&orgid=3277 |url-status=live }}</ref> and A− at [[CharityWatch]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=CharityWatch Report |url=https://www.charitywatch.org/ratings-and-metrics/american-red-cross/360 |access-date=November 30, 2017 |publisher=CharityWatch |archive-date=August 28, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190828234430/https://www.charitywatch.org/ratings-and-metrics/american-red-cross/360 |url-status=live }}</ref>


In 1996, the ''[[Chronicle of Philanthropy]]'', an industry magazine, released the results of the largest study of charitable and nonprofit organization popularity and credibility. The study showed that ARC was ranked as the third "most popular charity/non-profit in America" of over 100 charities researched, with 48% of Americans over age 12 choosing "Love" or "Like A lot" to describe it.<ref>{{Cite journal |date=December 13, 1996 |title=The Charities Americans Like Most And Least |journal=The Chronicle of Philanthropy}}</ref>
The Red Cross is moving toward system-wide universal prestorage leukocyte reduction to improve patient care.


===Research===
=== Notable members ===
{{columns-list|colwidth=20em|
The Red Cross operates the [[Jerome H. Holland Laboratory]], based in [[Rockville, Maryland]]. Each year, the Red Cross invests more than $25 million in research activities at the Holland Laboratory and in the field.
* [[Inez Mee Boren]], organizing chairwoman of the Lindsay Strathmore Branch of the American Red Cross<ref name="Binheim">{{Cite book |last1=Binheim |first1=Max |url=https://archive.org/details/womenofwestserie00binh |title=Women of the West; a series of biographical sketches of living eminent women in the eleven western states of the United States of America |last2=Elvin |first2=Charles A |date=1928 |access-date=August 8, 2017}}{{PD-notice}}</ref>
* [[Ida F. Butler]], National Nursing Director from 1936 to 1939<ref name="CSSU">{{Cite web |title=Ida F. Butler, Red Cross Nurse · Hartford Women in World War I · Digital History 511: Theory & Practice |url=https://library.ccsu.edu/dighistFall16/exhibits/show/hartford-women-in-world-war-i/ida--butler--red-cross-nurse |website=library.ccsu.edu |access-date=September 13, 2020 |archive-date=April 25, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210425073847/https://library.ccsu.edu/dighistFall16/exhibits/show/hartford-women-in-world-war-i/ida--butler--red-cross-nurse |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |date=October 1938 |title=News from the Field |url=https://ajph.aphapublications.org/doi/pdf/10.2105/AJPH.28.10.1260 |journal=American Journal of Public Health and the Nation's Health |language=en |volume=28 |issue=10 |pages=1260–1268 |doi=10.2105/AJPH.28.10.1260 |access-date=September 12, 2020 |archive-date=April 25, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210425073846/https://ajph.aphapublications.org/doi/pdf/10.2105/AJPH.28.10.1260 |url-status=live }}</ref>
* [[Ann Washington Craton]], labor organizer and relief worker<ref name="Labor History Newsletter WSU 1972">{{cite journal |author= |journal=Archives of Labor History and Urban Affairs Newsletter |title=The Ann Craton Blankenhorn Collection |date=Summer 1972 |volume=2 |issue=1 |page=3 |publisher=Wayne State University |jstor= |location=Detroit, Michigan }}</ref>
* [[Naomi Deutsch]]<ref name="Bullough">{{Cite book |last=Bullough |first=Vern L. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KDWiFMNlOfIC&pg=PA71 |title=American Nursing: A Biographical Dictionary:, Volume 3 |date=2000 |publisher=Springer Publishing Company |isbn=978-0-8261-1147-0 |page=71 |access-date=September 9, 2017}}</ref>
* [[Sally S. Emory]], vice-chairwoman Board of American Red Cross<ref name="Binheim" />
* [[Inglis Fletcher]], originator of Junior Red Cross Hospital program in Spokane Public Schools<ref name="Binheim" />
* [[George Ryerson Fowler]], founder of the Brooklyn Red Cross (1884)<ref>{{Cite web |title=George Ryerson Fowler |url=http://www.whonamedit.com/doctor.cfm/2561.html |website=whonamedit.com |access-date=April 19, 2020 |archive-date=May 20, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180520054621/http://www.whonamedit.com/doctor.cfm/2561.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
* [[Laura E. Frenger]], Executive, Home Service Sec. American Red Cross for eight years<ref name="Binheim" />
* [[Thora B. Gardiner]], secretary of the County Chapter of the American Red Cross<ref name="Binheim" />
* [[Nellie A. Goodhue]], on Board of Directors of Local Chapter American Red Cross<ref name="Binheim" />
* [[Sharlot Hall|Sharlot Mabridth Hall]], American Red Cross<ref name="Binheim" />
* [[Wilhelmina Harper]], American Red Cross Chicago<ref name="Binheim" />
* [[Laura Adrienne MacDonald]], member<ref name="Obituary">{{Cite news |year=1982 |title=Crescenta Business Pioneer Succumbs to Heart Failure – 18 Apr 1982, Sun • Page 170 |page=170 |work=Los Angeles Times |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/13661149/the_los_angeles_times/ |access-date=September 9, 2017 |archive-date=September 9, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170909233817/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/13661149/the_los_angeles_times/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
* [[Maria Orosa]], worked for the Philippine chapter
* [[Virginia Keating Orton]], member of Board of American Red Cross<ref name="Binheim" />
* [[Genevieve H. Sanford]], chairwoman of Red Cross Home Service Aberdeen<ref name="Binheim" />
* [[M. Elizabeth Shellabarger]], Director of Red Cross Nursing in Albania and Montenegro (1921–22)<ref name="Binheim" />
* [[Nancy Ellicott Tomlinson]], 3 years with Red Cross in Pacific Area, Executive Secretary, American Red Cross<ref name="Binheim" />
* [[Violet Richardson Ward]], taught water safety classes<ref>{{Cite web |title=Biologue of Founder Violet Richardson-Ward |url=http://www.caminorealregion.org/about/our-history/biologue-founder-violet-richardson-ward |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171005100911/http://www.caminorealregion.org/about/our-history/biologue-founder-violet-richardson-ward |archive-date=October 5, 2017 |access-date=October 4, 2017}}</ref>
* [[Gertrude B. Wilder]], secretary of the San Bernardino chapter of the American Red Cross<ref>{{Cite news |year=1955 |title=Gertrude B. Wilder – 15 Apr 1955, Fri • Page 7 |page=7 |work=The San Bernardino County Sun |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/14200979/the_san_bernardino_county_sun/ |access-date=October 5, 2017 |archive-date=October 6, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171006013337/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/14200979/the_san_bernardino_county_sun/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
* [[Basilio J. Valdes]], first Chief-of-Staff of the [[Armed Forces of the Philippines|Armed Forces]] of the [[Commonwealth of the Philippines]] from 1939. Was Deputy Commissioner for the American Red Cross in Europe after World War I.
}}
* [[Charles R. Drew]], First medical director for the Red Cross National Blood Collection Program in 1941.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.redcrossblood.org/local-homepage/news/article/dr-charles-drew-black-history-rcbs.html|title=Honoring Dr. Charles R. Drew This Black History Month|website=www.redcrossblood.org}}</ref>


== Blood services ==
===Cellular therapies===
One technique the Red Cross has identified strong potential for treating people in new ways is through [[cellular therapy|cellular therapies]]. This new method of treatment involves collecting and treating blood cells from a patient or other blood donor. The treated cells are then introduced into a patient to help revive normal cell function; replace cells that are lost as a result of disease, accidents or aging; or used to prevent illnesses from appearing.


=== Blood donation ===
Cellular therapy may prove to be particularly helpful for patients who are being treated for illnesses such as [[cancer]], where the treated cells may help battle cancerous cells.
ARC supplies roughly 45% of the [[blood donation|donated blood]] in the United States, which it sells to hospitals and regional suppliers.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Murphy |first=Heather |date=September 11, 2006 |title=The Business of Blood, Does the Red Cross sell your frozen plasma? |url=http://www.slate.com/id/2149359/ |access-date=March 8, 2012 |website=Slate |archive-date=September 7, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110907064727/http://www.slate.com/id/2149359 |url-status=live }}</ref> [[List of blood donation agencies in the United States|Community-based blood centers]] supply nearly 50% and approximately 5% is collected directly by hospitals.<ref>{{Cite web |title=About |url=https://americasblood.org/about/ |access-date=2020-07-12 |website=America's Blood Centers |language=en-US |archive-date=July 14, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200714061725/https://americasblood.org/about/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In December 2004, ARC completed its largest blood processing facility in the United States in [[Pomona, California]], on the campus grounds of [[Cal Poly Pomona|California State Polytechnic University, Pomona]].{{Citation needed|date=October 2023}}<gallery>
File:American Red Cross® - panoramio.jpg|American Red Cross ([[Oklahoma City]])
File:Children in the American Red Cross Children's Hospital, Villa Dini. Naples.jpg|Children in the American Red Cross
</gallery>


=== Tissue services ===
==Johnson & Johnson suit over Red Cross image==
For more than 50 years, ARC provided [[allograft]] tissue for [[Organ transplant|transplant]] through sales in its Tissue Services Program. It cared for thousands of donor families who donated tissue and sold the tissue to more than 1 million transplant recipients. At the end of January 2005, ARC ended its Tissue Services program to focus on its primary missions of Disaster Relief and Blood Services.{{Citation needed|date=October 2023}}
{{further|[[Emblems of the Red Cross#Current controversies over the use of the Red Cross emblem]]}}[[Image:Flag of the Red Cross.svg|border|right|150px]]


=== Plasma services ===
According to the American Red Cross on August the 7th 2007<ref>http://www.redcross.org/pressrelease/0,1077,0_314_6907,00.html</ref>, [[Johnson & Johnson]] have filed suit against the American Red Cross over its sublicencing of the Red Cross image for the production of first aid kits and similar products, which are alleged to compete with Johnson & Johnson. The suit also asks for the destruction of all currently existing non-Johnson & Johnson Red Cross Emblem bearing products and demands the American Red Cross pay [[punitive damages]] and Johnson & Johnson's legal fees.
A leader in the [[Blood plasma|plasma]] industry, ARC provides more than one quarter of the USA's plasma products. Red Cross Plasma Services are plasma products that have a reputation of being reliable, cost-effective and as safe as possible.{{Citation needed|date=December 2024}}


In February 1999, ARC completed its "Transformation", a $287 million program that re engineered Red Cross Blood Services' processing, testing, and distribution system and established a new management structure.{{Citation needed|date=December 2024}}
Since 2004, the Red Cross has worked with several licensing partners to create first aid, preparedness and related products that bear the Red Cross emblem. All money the Red Cross receives from the sale of these products to consumers is reinvested in its humanitarian programs and services. "For a multi-billion dollar drug company to claim that the Red Cross violated a criminal statute that was created to protect the humanitarian mission of the Red Cross - simply so that J&J can make more money - is obscene," said Mark Everson, the former chief executive of the charity<ref>http://news.independent.co.uk/business/news/article2851498.ece</ref>. Johnson & Johnson responded, stating that the Red Cross's commercial ventures were outside the scope of historically well-agreed usage, and were in direct violation of federal statutes<ref name='jnj_pressrelease'>[http://www.jnj.com/news/jnj_news/20070809_081717.htm Johnson & Johnson Press Release]. Statement on Civil Complaint Against The American National Red Cross. [[August 9]], [[2007]].</ref>. Johnson & Johnson's usage of this image is prohibited by the Geneva conventions, which do not allow for the exemption allowed for by US law.<ref>http://www.icrc.org/ihl.nsf/7c4d08d9b287a42141256739003e636b/fe20c3d903ce27e3c125641e004a92f3 1st Geneva Convention. Chapter VII. Art 44. </ref>


As of 2011, ARC was no longer in the Plasma Services industry. It supplies [[Baxter International|Baxter BioSciences]] with items for manufacturing plasma products.<ref>{{Cite press release |title=Baxter and the American National Red Cross Agree to Terminate Contract Manufacturing Arrangement for Plasma Products |date=March 1, 2005 |url=http://www.baxter.com/press_room/press_releases/2005/03-01-05-arc.html |access-date=October 27, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121101122437/http://baxter.com/press_room/press_releases/2005/03-01-05-arc.html |archive-date=November 1, 2012 |website=Baxter.com}}</ref>
==Court ordered consent decree==
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) took court action against the American Red Cross in response to deficiencies in their tracking and procedures for ensuring the safety of the blood supply. The consent decree outlines some of the violations of federal law that the American Red Cross engaged in before 1993.<Ref>''[http://www.fda.gov/ora/frequent/letters/1000123507_ARC/consent_decree_100023507_01.html Consent Decree Notification]'', U.S. [[Food and Drug Administration]] website, ([[2003-04-13]]). Retrieved on [[2007-04-18]].</ref> Fines were imposed in the millions of dollars.


=== Nucleic acid testing ===
In response to the decree, Red Cross Biomedical Services now has: a standardized [[computer]] system that efficiently maintains the blood donor database; a network of eight, state-of-the-art National Testing Laboratories (NTLs) that test about 6 million units of blood collected by the Red Cross's 36 blood regions; the Charles Drew Biomedical Institute, which allows for the Red Cross to provide training and other educational resources to Red Cross Blood Services' personnel; a highly qualified Quality Assurance/Regulatory Affairs Department, which helps to ensure compliance with FDA regulations in every Red Cross Blood Services region; and, a centrally managed blood inventory system to ensure the consistent availability of blood and blood components in every Red Cross Blood Services region throughout the country.
On March 1, 1999, ARC became the first U.S. blood bank to implement a [[nucleic acid test]]ing (NAT) study. This process is different from traditional testing because it looks for the [[genetics|genetic]] material of HIV and [[hepatitis C]] (HCV), rather than the body's response to the disease.{{Citation needed|date=October 2023}}


The NAT tests for [[RT-PCR test|HIV]] and HCV has been licensed by the U.S. [[Food and Drug Administration]] (FDA). These tests detect the genetic material of a transfusion-transmitted virus like HIV without waiting for the body to form antibodies, potentially offering an important time advantage over current techniques.{{Citation needed|date=October 2023}}
In an agreement with the American Red Cross the Consent Decree was amended in 2003 with penalties for specific violations.


=== Leukoreduction ===
The FDA can impose penalties after April 2003 up to the following maximum amounts:
[[File:Letter from the American Red Cross showing where donation was sent.jpg|left|thumb|396x396px|Letter of American Red Cross]]
* $10,000 per event (and $10,000 per day) for any violation of an ARC standard operating procedure (SOP), the law, or consent decree requirement and timeline
[[File:Reliant Astrodome in January 2014 b.jpg|thumb|343x343px|[[Astrodome|Houston Astrodome]], a major ARC location in Texas]]
* $50,000 for preventable release of each unit of blood for which FDA determines that there is a reasonable probability that the product may cause serious adverse health consequences or death
[[Leukocytes]] (white blood cells) help fight off foreign substances such as bacteria, viruses, and abnormal cells. In fact, these foreign leukocytes in transfused [[red blood cells]] and [[platelets]] are often not well tolerated and have been associated with some types of transfusion complications. Leukocytes in stored blood products can have a variety of biological effects, including depression of immune function, which can result in organ failure and death.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Barrington |first1=K. |last2=Fergusson |first2=D. |last3=Hebert |first3=P. |last4=Joseph |first4=L. |last5=Lee |first5=S. |last6=Walker |first6=R. |year=2003 |title=Clinical Outcomes Following Institution of Universal Leukoreduction of Blood Transfusions for Premature Infants |journal=JAMA |volume=289 |issue=15 |pages=1950–56 |doi=10.1001/jama.289.15.1950 |pmid=12697797 |doi-access=free}}</ref> Because whole blood is rarely used for transfusion and not kept in routine inventory, leukoreduced red blood supplies are critical. After collection, the whole blood is separated into red cells and plasma by centrifugal. A preservative solution is mixed with the red cells and the component is filtered with a leukoreduction filter. The shelf life of this product is 42 days.{{Citation needed|date=October 2023}}
**$5,000 for the release of each unit that may cause temporary problems, up to a maximum of $500,000 per event
* $50,000 for the improper re-release of each unsuitable blood unit that was returned to ARC inventory
* $10,000 for each donor inappropriately omitted from the [[National Donor Deferral Registry]], a list of all unsuitable donors


ARC is moving toward system-wide universal prestorage leukocyte reduction to improve patient care. From 1976 to 1985, the FDA received reports of 355 fatalities associated with transfusion, 99 of which were excluded from further review because they were unrelated to transfusion or involved [[hepatitis]] or [[HIV/AIDS]].<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Grimes |last2=Kaler |last3=Obezrz |last4=Sazama |last5=Shriver |year=2003 |title=Reports of 355 Transfusion-Associated Deaths: 1976 Through 1985 |journal=Transfusion |volume=30 |pages=583–90 |doi=10.1046/j.1537-2995.1990.30790385515.x |pmid=2402771 |number=7 |s2cid=22631788}}</ref> While the FDA has not yet made leukoreduction a requirement, ARC took a leading role in implementing this procedure with a goal of leukoreducing all blood products. More than 70% of ARC red blood cell components undergo prestorage leukoreduction, a filtering process performed soon after blood is donated.{{Citation needed|date=October 2023}}
The Food and Drug Administration has continued to apply pressure and fines to the American Red Cross in order to enforce compliance with regulations. The most recent, $4.2 million, in September 2006.<Ref>{{citation| first=Gardiner | last=Harris | url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?sec=health&res=9C0DE0DE1431F93AA3575AC0A9609C8B63&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss | title=F.D.A. Adds $4 Million Fine For Red Cross Blood System | publisher=[[The New York Times]] | date=[[2006-09-16]] | accessdate=2007-04-18}}</ref>


=== Research ===
ARC operates the [[Jerome H. Holland]] blood laboratory in [[Rockville, Maryland]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=American Red Cross Holland Laboratory |url=https://www.newswise.com/institutions/view/American-Red-Cross-Holland-Laboratory-1523 |access-date=2024-05-21 |website=www.newswise.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Hensley |first=Scott |date=September 9, 2011 |title=Babesia In The Blood? There Should Be A Test For That |url=https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2011/09/09/140339796/babesia-in-the-blood-there-should-be-a-test-for-that |website=NPR}}</ref>


=== Cellular therapies ===
[[File:American Red Cross - War Work - Red Cross Building in Washington dedicated. Photo shows a field kitchen and Red Cross nurses, part of the parade held in Washington at the dedication of American Red Cross headquar(...) - NARA - 20803272.jpg|thumb|American Red Cross [[hospital train]] in Dallas, 1919]]
ARC offers various [[Cell therapy|cellular therapies]]; these treatments involve collecting and treating blood cells from a patient or other blood donor. The treated cells are introduced into a patient to help revive normal cell function, replace cells that are lost as a result of disease, accidents or aging, or to prevent illnesses from appearing. The ARC has implemented technology from Accellix, a biotechnology company specializing in automated cell [[Phenotype|phenotyping]], in order to help meet the increasing demand and need for various cell and gene therapies. The ARC continues to work on further expanding their help and participation in cellular therapies and are always looking for donors who are willing and able to contribute to their mission.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Gerasimopoulos |first1=Efthalia |last2=Maiden |first2=Colleen |date=December 3, 2024 |title=Accellix Platform Chosen by the American Red Cross for Rapid and Accurate Allogeneic Source Material Characterization for Cell Therapy Development |url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241203249129/en/Accellix-Platform-Chosen-by-the-American-Red-Cross-for-Rapid-and-Accurate-Allogeneic-Source-Material-Characterization-for-Cell-Therapy-Development. |access-date=December 6, 2024 |website=Business Wire}}</ref>


== Red Cross Health and Safety services ==
== Training services ==
Training Services is one of the five divisions of the American Red Cross, responsible for providing health and safety training to the general public as well as the workforce. In fiscal year 2017 the American Red Cross trained 2.28 million people how to save lives through their First Aid, CPR or AED courses, water safety and care giving programs. There are a wide variety of course offerings available:<ref>{{Cite web |title=Red Cross Training {{!}} Take a Class {{!}} Red Cross |url=https://www.redcross.org/take-a-class |access-date=2018-10-30 |website=American Red Cross |language=en |archive-date=April 26, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210426090148/https://www.redcross.org/take-a-class |url-status=live }}</ref>
The American Red Cross has become a household name for providing [[first aid]], [[Cardiopulmonary resuscitation]] (CPR), [[Automated external defibrillator]] (AED), water safety and [[lifeguard]]ing training throughout the United States. The training programs are primarily aimed at laypersons, workplaces, and aquatic facilities. Annually, the American Red Cross teaches around 12 million Americans these skills, ranging from youth to professional rescuers. In 2005, the American Red Cross co-lead the 2005 Guidelines for First Aid, which aims to provide up-to-date and peer-reviewed first aid training material. Many American Red Cross chapters also sell first aid kits and other related equipment.
* Administering Emergency Oxygen
* Advanced Life Support
* Anaphylaxis and Epinephrine Auto-Injector
* Asthma Inhaler Training
* Babysitter's Training
* Basic Life Support
* Bloodborne Pathogens Training
* California Child Care
* CPR/AED for Professional Rescuers
* Emergency Medical Response
* First Aid/CPR/AED (English and Spanish)
* Hands-Only CPR
* Learn to Swim
* Lifeguard Management
* Lifeguarding
* Longfellow's WHALE Tales
* Nurse Assistant Training
* Pediatric Advanced Life Support
* Responding to Emergencies
* Safety Training for Swim Coaches
* Title 22 (California First Aid for Public Safety Personnel)
* Water Safety
* Wilderness and Remote First Aid


In addition to basic level certifications in the above courses, the American Red Cross also offers Instructor level courses and Instructor Trainer (IT) level courses. Instructor level courses are designed to teach participants how to become instructors for American Red Cross courses, whereas Instructor Trainer courses (also known as Instructor Trainer Academies) are designed to certify current instructors to become Instructor Trainers, or people who can teach Instructor level courses.{{Citation needed|date=October 2023}}
==Disaster Services==
Each year, the American Red Cross responds immediately to more than 70,000 [[disasters]], including house or apartment [[fires]] (the majority of disaster responses), [[hurricane]]s, [[flood]]s, [[earthquake]]s, [[tornado]]es, [[hazardous materials]] spills, transportation [[accidents]], [[explosions]], and other natural and man-made disasters.


Training Services has an online store where you can purchase supplies including First Aid Kits, CPR key chains, flashlights, and emergency radios.<ref>{{Cite web |title=First Aid Kits, Emergency Essentials, & Survival Kits {{!}} Red Cross Store |url=https://www.redcross.org/store |access-date=2018-10-30 |website=American Red Cross |language=en |archive-date=April 25, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210425125529/https://www.redcross.org/store |url-status=live }}</ref>
Although the American Red Cross is not a [[government]] agency, its authority to provide disaster relief was formalized when, in [[1905]], the Red Cross was granted a [[congressional charter]] to "carry on a system of national and international relief in time of peace and apply the same in mitigating the sufferings caused by pestilence, famine, fire, floods, and other great national calamities, and to devise and carry on measures for preventing the same." The Charter is not only a grant of power, but also an imposition of duties and obligations to the nation, to disaster victims, and to the people who support its work with their donations.


=== 2018 mannequin change ===
American Red Cross disaster relief focuses on meeting people's immediate emergency disaster-caused needs. When a disaster threatens or strikes, the Red Cross provides [[Emergency shelter|shelter]], [[food]], and [[health]] and [[mental health]] services to address basic human needs. In addition to these services, the core of Red Cross disaster relief is the assistance given to individuals and families affected by disaster to enable them to resume their normal daily activities independently.
In early 2018 all courses offered by the American Red Cross switched to Brayden/BigRed Manikins. The investment cost $1.8 million and increased participants' understanding of the purpose of compressions during CPR. These Manikins have LED lights that mimic blood flow through the body and to the brain, giving students instant visual feedback on their technique.


=== Course offerings ===
The Red Cross also feeds emergency workers of other agencies, handles inquiries from concerned family members outside the disaster area, provides blood and blood products to disaster victims, and helps those affected by disaster to access other available resources. It is a member of the [[National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster]] (VOAD) and works closely with other agencies such as the [[Salvation Army]] and the [[Amateur Radio Emergency Service]] with whom it has Memorandums of Understanding.
There are three entities that can run American Red Cross courses; The American Red Cross, Authorized Providers, and Licensed Training Providers.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Licensed Training Provider {{!}} Instructor Training {{!}} Red Cross |url=https://www.redcross.org/take-a-class/licensed-training-authorized-providers |access-date=2018-10-31 |website=American Red Cross |language=en |archive-date=April 25, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210425125530/https://www.redcross.org/take-a-class/licensed-training-authorized-providers |url-status=live }}</ref> The American Red Cross runs many of its own courses that can be conducted on land such as First Aid/CPR/AED and Basic Life Support for Healthcare Providers. There are a number of courses that require aquatic facilities to run, such as Lifeguarding and Water Safety Instructor. These courses are generally left to Authorized Providers (colleges, government agencies, fire departments, community centers) and to Licensed Training Providers (LLC. or Inc.).{{Citation needed|date=October 2023}}


=== Scientific Advisory Council ===
The American Red Cross also works hard to encourage preparedness by providing important literature on readiness. Many chapters also offer free classes to the general public.
The Scientific Advisory Council is a panel including over 50 nationally recognized medical, scientific, aquatics, and academic experts from across the United States.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.redcross.org/take-a-class/scientific-advisory-council|title=Science Behind Our Programs &#124; Science Advisory Council &#124; Red Cross|website=www.redcross.org|access-date=October 31, 2018|archive-date=April 25, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210425125530/https://www.redcross.org/take-a-class/scientific-advisory-council|url-status=live}}</ref>


== Disaster services==
A major misconception by the general public is that the American Red Cross provides medical facilities, engages in search and rescue operations or deploys ambulances to disaster areas. As an emergency support agency, the American Red Cross does not engage in these first responder activities; instead, these first responder roles are left to local, state or federal agencies as dictated by the [[National Response Plan]]. The confusion arises since other Red Cross societies across the globe may provide these functions; for example, the Cruz Roja Mexicana (Mexican Red Cross) runs a national ambulance service. Furthermore, American Red Cross Emergency Response Vehicles (ERVs) look similar to ambulances. These ERVs instead are designed for bulk distribution of relief supplies, such as hot meals, drinks or other relief supplies. Although American Red Cross shelters usually have a nurse assigned to the facility, they are not equipped to provide medical care beyond emergency first aid.
[[File:FEMA - 2332 - Photograph by Robert A. Eplett taken on 01-17-1994 in California.jpg|thumb|American Red Cross providing assistance during the [[1994 Northridge earthquake]]]]
[[File:GF1997RedCross.jpg|thumb|An American Red Cross vehicle distributing food to [[Grand Forks, North Dakota]] victims of the [[1997 Red River Flood in the United States|1997 Red River flood]]]]
[[File:FEMA - 58087 - Photo by George Armstrong taken on 07-09-2012 in Florida.jpg|thumb|Satellite communications after [[Tropical Storm Debby (2012)|Tropical Storm Debby]] in Lake City, Florida, 2012]]


Each year, ARC responds to more than 60,000 disasters, including house or apartment fires (making up the majority), hurricanes, floods, earthquakes, tornadoes, [[hazardous materials]] spills, transportation accidents, explosions and other natural and man-made disasters.{{Citation needed|date=October 2023}}
===Disaster Services Human Resources system===


Although ARC is not a government agency, its authority to provide disaster relief was formalized when, in 1905, it was granted a [[congressional charter]] to "carry on a system of national and international relief in time of peace and apply the same in mitigating the sufferings caused by pestilence, famine, fire, floods, and other great national calamities, and to devise and carry on measures for preventing the same." The charter is not only a grant of power but also an imposition of duties and obligations to the nation, to disaster victims and to the people who support its work with their donations.{{Citation needed|date=October 2023}}
The [[Disaster Services Human Resources]] (DSHR) system enrolls volunteers from individual American Red Cross chapters into a national database of responders, classified by their ability to serve in one or more Activities within Groups. Responders must complete training requirements specific to the Activities they wish to serve in, as well as the basics required of all Disaster Service volunteers, which include a background check as well as training in First Aid, CPR/AED and Red Cross internal training.


Disaster relief focuses on emergency disaster-caused needs. When a disaster threatens or strikes, ARC provides [[Emergency shelter|shelter]], food and health and [[mental health]] services ([[Psychological First Aid]]) to address basic human needs. The core of American Red Cross disaster relief is assistance to individuals and families to enable them to resume their normal daily activities. The organization provides translation and interpretation when necessary, and maintains a [[language bank|database of multilingual volunteers]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=American Red Cross – Community Services |url=http://www.redcross.org/more/commserv/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070825162841/http://www.redcross.org/more/commserv/ |archive-date=August 25, 2007 |access-date=April 18, 2008 |publisher=American Red Cross}}</ref>
===National Response Plan===


At the local level, ARC chapters operate volunteer-staffed [[Disaster Action Team]]s.{{Citation needed|date=October 2023}}
As a [[National Response Plan]] direct service provider, the American Red Cross feeds and shelters victims of disasters. In addition to fulfilling this role, the American Red Cross is responsible for coordinating federal efforts to address mass care, housing, and human services under Emergency Support Function 6 with FEMA. The American Red Cross is the only charity to serve as a primary agency under any Emergency Support Function. The plan gives the American Red Cross responsibility for coordinating federal mass care assistance in support of state and local efforts. The American Red Cross also has responsibilities under other Emergency Support Functions, such as providing counseling services and working with the federal government to distribute ice and water. FEMA’s responsibilities include convening regular meetings with key agencies and coordinating the transition of service delivery from mass care operations to long-term recovery activities, among other responsibilities.<Ref>''[http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d06297t.pdf Hurricanes Katrina and Rita: Provision of Charitable Assistance]'' United States [[Government Accountability Office]], [[2005-12-13]] pp. 3-4. Retrieved [[2007-04-18]]</ref>


ARC feeds emergency workers of other agencies, handles inquiries from concerned family members outside the disaster area, provides blood and blood products to disaster victims and helps those affected by a disaster to access other resources. It is a member of [[National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster]] (VOAD) and works closely with other agencies such as [[Salvation Army]] and [[Amateur Radio Emergency Service]] with whom it has memorandums of understanding.{{Citation needed|date=October 2023}}
==September 11 controversy==


ARC works to encourage preparedness by providing important literature on readiness. Many chapters also offer free classes to the general public.<ref>{{Cite news |date=May 18, 2023 |title=American Red Cross offers free lifesaving skills training for volunteers |url=https://news.va.gov/119588/american-red-cross-lifesaving-skills-training/ |access-date=September 27, 2024 |work=VA News}}</ref>
In the aftermath of the [[September 11, 2001 attacks]], the Red Cross, like many charitable organizations, solicited funds and blood donations for Red Cross activities for the victims of the attacks. [[Bernadine Healy|Dr. Bernadine Healy]], the president of the American Red Cross, appeared on telethons urging individuals to give generously.{{Fact|date=May 2007}} However, according to America's Blood Centers, the nonprofit consortium that provides the other 50% of the United States blood supply, no national blood drive was needed, since localized blood drives in the affected areas would be sufficient to meet the demand. The American Red Cross felt that the terrorist attacks were a sign of increased instability and urged people to donate blood, even though it wasn't needed at that time. In the end, some blood was destroyed unused {{Fact|date=May 2007}}.


A major misconception among the general public is that ARC provides medical facilities, engages in search and rescue operations or deploys ambulances. Instead, first responder roles are left to government agencies as dictated by the [[National Response Framework]]. Red Cross societies outside the U.S. may provide such functions; for example, the ''Cruz Roja Mexicana'' (Mexican Red Cross) runs a national ambulance service. Furthermore, American Red Cross Emergency Response Vehicles (ERVs) look similar to ambulances.<ref>{{Cite web |date=October 22, 2018 |title=American Red Cross Vehicles |url=https://flickr.com/photos/incidentresponse/albums/72157719094355802 |access-date=14 May 2021 |website=Flickr |archive-date=August 5, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210805214525/https://flickr.com/photos/incidentresponse/albums/72157719094355802 |url-status=live }}</ref> These ERVs instead are designed for bulk distribution of relief supplies, such as meals, drinks and other relief supplies. Although ARC shelters usually assign a nurse to the facility, they are not equipped to provide medical care beyond first aid.{{Citation needed|date=October 2023}}
Also, the American Red Cross created the ''Liberty Fund'' that was ostensibly designed for relief for victims of the terrorist attacks. However, when the fund was closed in October, after reaching the goals of donations, only 30% of the $547 million received was spent. Dr. Healy announced that the majority of the remainder of the money would be used to increase blood supply, improve telecommunications, and prepare for terror attacks in other parts of the country.


=== Disaster Services Workforce ===
In February 2002, ''[[The New Yorker]]'' magazine reported that American Red Cross representatives were visiting upscale apartment buildings in wealthy Manhattan neighborhoods and distributing donated money (up to three months' rent or mortgage payments) to New Yorkers who had been "displaced, traumatized, or merely inconvenienced" by the terrorist attacks, without any regard to whether the recipients were actually in financial need<!--[http://www.newyorker.com/talk/content/?020218ta_talk_paumgarten] LINK NOT WORKING -->.
The Disaster Services Workforce (DSW) system enrolls volunteers from ARC chapters into a national database of responders, classified by their ability to serve in one or more activities within groups. Services include feeding and sheltering ("mass care") warehousing, damage assessment, accounting, communications, public affairs, counseling and others. Responders complete training for the specific services they want to offer, first aid and CPR.{{Citation needed|date=October 2023}}


=== National Response Framework ===
Many donors felt that they had donated specifically to the victims of the September 11 attacks and objected to Healy's official plan for the diversion of funds. Survivors complained of the bureaucratic process involved in requesting funds and the slow delivery of the checks to meet immediate needs. Congressional hearings were called and New York State Attorney General [[Eliot Spitzer]] investigated the Red Cross. In the end, the American Red Cross appointed former U.S. senator [[George J. Mitchell|George Mitchell]] to handle distribution of the funds. Dr. Healy was forced to resign for her role in the situation, and the Red Cross pledged that all funds would go to directly benefit the victims of the September 11 attacks.<ref>Williams, Grant ''[http://philanthropy.com/free/update/2001/10/2001102601.htm Red Cross President Resigns Under Pressure From Board]'', [[The Chronicle of Philanthropy]], [[2001-10-26]]. Retrieved [[2007-04-18]].</ref> Healy received a severance payment of $1,569,630.<ref>''[http://www.give.org/reports/arc.asp American Red Cross report]'' [[BBB Wise Giving Alliance|Better Business Bureau Wise Giving Alliance]], May 2003. Retrieved [[2007-04-18]].</ref> In the end, out of the $961 million received, 71% went as cash assistance to those directly affected, 15% went for long term mental care and hospital care for the victims and people in the affected region, and 10% went for immediate disaster relief like shelters, food, and health care. The remaining 4% went for administration.
As a [[National Response Framework]]<ref>{{cite web |title=Emergency Support Functions |url=https://www.fema.gov/emergency-managers/national-preparedness/frameworks/response#esf |website=National Response Framework |access-date=24 August 2024}}</ref> support agency, ARC shelters, feeds and provides other types of emergency relief to victims of disasters. ARC is a co-lead with the [[Federal Emergency Management Agency]] (FEMA) for the mass care portion of Emergency Support Function 6. ARC and FEMA share responsibility for planning and coordinating mass care services with FEMA. ARC has responsibilities for other Emergency Support Functions, such as providing health and mental health services.<ref>{{Cite web |date=October 22, 2010 |title=FEMA And American Red Cross Partnership Will Strengthen Mass Care During A Disaster |url=http://www.fema.gov/news/newsrelease.fema?id=53086 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110108184648/http://www.fema.gov/news/newsrelease.fema?id=53086 |archive-date=January 8, 2011 |publisher=Federal Emergency Management Agency}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=National Response Framework |url=http://www.fema.gov/emergency/nrf/index.htm# |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110820060504/http://www.fema.gov/emergency/nrf/index.htm |archive-date=August 20, 2011 |access-date=August 18, 2011 |publisher=Federal Emergency Management Agency}}</ref>


== Disaster responses ==
Significant changes to Red Cross fundraising collection and policy have since been implemented after the Liberty Fund debacle. Numerous watchdog organizations, such as Charity Navigator, have since given high praise to the improved system of honoring donor's intent and minimizing administration costs.


=== 1908 Messina earthquake ===
==Blood Donation Controversy==
In 1908 an [[1908 Messina earthquake|earthquake and tsunami]] devastated the area surround the [[Strait of Messina]]. The American public donated nearly $1 million to the American Red Cross which was sent to Italy via the [[State Department]], alongside $800,000 in public funds.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=IRWIN, JULIA F. |title=MAKING THE WORLD SAFE : the american red cross and a nation's humanitarian awakening. |date=2017 |publisher=OXFORD University Press |isbn=978-0-19-061074-6 |page=40 |oclc=959033970}}</ref> The decision to use the State Department to distribute funds, rather than sending them directly to the [[Italian Red Cross]], was indicative of the organization's shift away from the [[International Committee of the Red Cross|International Red Cross]] movement and towards US interests.<ref>{{Cite book |title=The American Red Cross from Clara Barton to the New Deal |date=2012 |isbn=9781421408231 |pages=138–139 |doi=10.1353/book.21077|last1=Jones |first1=Marian Moser }}</ref> This was the ARC's first major response to an international civilian disaster.<ref name=":0" />


In December of that year two Americans, Harry Bowdoin and Charles King Wood, were in [[Taormina]] when the earthquake occurred. Mr. Bowdoin was spending the winter in Taormina with his invalid mother and Mr. Wood was an artist who had lived in Taormina for several years. These two men entered upon the work of relief answering the call of the Red Cross.[110] Afterwards, the Italian government conferred upon the two men the honorific of "Cavaliere". Bowdoin and Wood were two of the twenty-one recipients of the American Red Cross silver medal for "specially meritorious service" for that year.
The American Red Cross has for many years faced criticism from [[LGBT]] advocacy organizations for prohibiting [[men who have sex with men]] from donating blood. This policy is in fact a requirement for all blood collection companies and organizations in the United States, as outlined by the US [[Food and Drug Administration]]. Specifically, the FDA classifies "Men who have had sex with another man even one time since 1977...Unsuitable Donors who Are at Increased Risk for HIV" <ref>http://www.fda.gov/oashi/aids/1992policy.html</ref>. Subsequently, the American Red Cross is legally unable to collect blood from men who have sex with men. The organization in 2006, along with the [[American Association of Blood Banks]] and [[America’s Blood Centers]], petitioned to the FDA to remove the requirement from blood donations, citing better screening technologies. <ref>http://www.advocate.com/news_detail_ektid27945.asp</ref><ref>http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=10540971</ref> Despite the petition, the FDA has yet to reverse its stance on the issue.


Before 1908, the [[United States Congress|U.S. Congress]] had only rarely allocated funds for natural disasters; likewise, the level of funding given to [[Italy]] was also unprecedented.<ref>{{Cite book |last=IRWIN, JULIA F. |title=MAKING THE WORLD SAFE : the american red cross and a nation's humanitarian awakening. |date=2017 |publisher=OXFORD University Press |isbn=978-0-19-061074-6 |page=220 |oclc=959033970}}</ref> The ARC's aid to Italy carried important diplomatic meaning for the U.S. due to the large number of Italian emigrants who left for the U.S. every year, and Italy's growing importance within Europe.<ref>{{Cite book |last=IRWIN, JULIA F. |title=MAKING THE WORLD SAFE : the american red cross and a nation's humanitarian awakening. |date=2017 |publisher=OXFORD University Press |isbn=978-0-19-061074-6 |pages=40–41 |oclc=959033970}}</ref> ARC leaders viewed relief efforts in Italy as a way to demonstrate U.S. care for the nation. Alongside this, disaster relief was seen as a tool for social reform. A fundamental goal of the ARC's assistance was to address the perceived threat of pulverization within an area that a large proportion of U.S. immigrants came from.<ref>{{Cite book |last=IRWIN, JULIA F. |title=MAKING THE WORLD SAFE : the american red cross and a nation's humanitarian awakening. |date=2017 |publisher=OXFORD University Press |isbn=978-0-19-061074-6 |page=41 |oclc=959033970}}</ref>
==2005 Hurricanes==


=== Role in the United States occupation of Nicaragua ===
The 2005 Hurricane Season proved to be the most challenging disaster response the American Red Cross had ever seen in its history. Forecasting a major disaster before the landfall of [[Hurricane Katrina]], the organization enlisted 2,000 volunteers throughout the nation to be on a "stand by" deployment list.
As a response to the Nicaraguan resentment of the [[United States occupation of Nicaragua]], U.S. officials employed the use of humanitarian relief in attempt to improve relations. $10,000 was given to the ARC by [[Philander C. Knox|Philander Knox]] to provide relief in the form of blankets, clothing, and food to captured soldiers from [[José Santos Zelaya]]'s army.<ref>{{Cite book |last=IRWIN, JULIA F. |title=MAKING THE WORLD SAFE : the american red cross and a nation's humanitarian awakening. |date=2017 |publisher=OXFORD University Press |isbn=978-0-19-061074-6 |page=46 |oclc=959033970}}</ref> ARC leaders believed that humanitarian relief would be more effective in fostering goodwill and creating stability than any other action. In 1912 the State and War Department became concerned with increasing reports of hunger within the country. As a result, Knox asked the ARC to supply food for non-combatants as well. American forces worked with the ARC to open railroads to distribute humanitarian supplies to [[Managua]], [[Granada, Nicaragua|Granada]], [[León, Nicaragua|Léon]], and other key cities.<ref>{{Cite book |last=IRWIN, JULIA F. |title=MAKING THE WORLD SAFE : the american red cross and a nation's humanitarian awakening. |date=2017 |publisher=OXFORD University Press |isbn=978-0-19-061074-6 |page=47 |oclc=959033970}}</ref>


Although the ARC was a non-governmental agency, its humanitarian efforts lined up with American foreign policy, becoming a useful diplomatic mechanism for softening the effects of American military intervention and securing its political interests.<ref>{{Cite book |last=IRWIN, JULIA F. |title=MAKING THE WORLD SAFE : the american red cross and a nation's humanitarian awakening. |date=2017 |publisher=OXFORD University Press |isbn=978-0-19-061074-6 |page=72 |oclc=959033970}}</ref>
According to the American Red Cross, during and after the Hurricanes Katrina, Wilma and Rita, they opened 1,470 different shelters across and registered 3.8 million overnight stays. A total of 244,000 Red Cross workers (95% of whom were non-paid volunteers) were utilized to provide sheltering, casework, communication and assessment services throughout these three hurricanes. In addition, 346,980 comfort kits (which contain hygiene essentials such as toothpaste, soap, washclothes and toys for children) and 205,360 clean up kits (containing brooms, mops and bleach) were distributed. For mass care, the organization served 68 million snacks and meals to victims of the disasters and to rescue workers. The Red Cross also had their Disaster Health services meet 596,810 contacts, and Disaster Mental Health services meet 826,590 contacts. Red Cross emergency financial assistance was provided to 1.4 million families, which encompassed a total of 4 million people. Hurricane Katrina was the first natural disaster in the United States that the American Red Cross utilized their "Safe and Well" family location website. <ref>''[http://www.redcross.org/images/pdfs/Katrina_OneYearReport.pdf A Year of Healing]'' The American Red Cross, August 2006. Retrieved [[2007-04-18]]</ref><ref>''[http://www.redcross.org/news/ds/hurricanes/2005/facts.html Hurricane Season 2005]'', American Red Cross website, [[2006-06-30]]. Retrieved [[2007-04-18]].</ref>


=== Role in World War One ===
On February 3, 2006, 5 months after Katrina's landfall, the American Red Cross announced that it had met its fundraising goals, and would no longer engage in new 2005 Hurricane relief fundraising. The National organization urged the public to help other charities engaged in hurricane relief work, or to donate to their local Red Cross chapters. An American Red Cross statement was issued saying that 91 cents of every dollar donated specifically for the Hurricane Katrina disaster will go directly to disaster relief. This overhead of only 9% is quite low for such a large organization.
Prior to the United States entry into World War One, the American Red Cross was a neutral organization aiding both the allied and central powers.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Moser Jones |first=Marian |title=The American Red Cross from Clara Barton to the New Deal |year=2013 |pages=xx}}</ref> However, when the United States joined the allied powers, the American Red Cross aid to the central powers ended immediately. On May 10, 1917, President Wilson created the American Red Cross War Council to aid funding initiatives and direct the activities of the organization. Throughout the war, the Council raised $400 million.{{Citation needed|date=October 2023}}


The American Red Cross in the war was a quasi-state organization and a non-governmental organization, as it was not officially part of the United States Government. The American Red Cross in the war focused principally on overseas civilian aid and not domestic disaster relief. The American Red Cross spent "less than one million dollars on domestic disaster relief, in comparison to the $120 million devoted to relief overseas.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Moser Jones |first=Marian |title=The American Red Cross from Clara Barton to the New Deal |year=2013 |page=166}}</ref>" The American Red Cross during the war provided food, employment, housing, and medical assistance to millions of civilians displaced by the war. During the course of the war, over one-third of the population of the United States joined the organization and in 1917 and 1918 alone around $400 million was raised.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Irwin |first=Julia |title=Making the World Safe |year=2013 |page=5}}</ref> Amongst its initiatives was the [[Pisa Village]] in Italy, a humanitarian housing project, begun in 1918,{{Citation needed|date=October 2023}} and manufacture of "500,000 dressings" to treat wounds using use of [[Sphagnum|Sphagnum moss]] in place of cotton, based on the research of [[John William Hotson]].<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Thieret |first=John W. |date=January 1956 |title=Bryophytes as economic plants |url=http://link.springer.com/10.1007/BF02985319 |journal=Economic Botany |language=en |volume=10 |issue=1 |pages=75–91 |doi=10.1007/BF02985319 |bibcode=1956EcBot..10...75T |issn=0013-0001}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Hotson |first=J. W. |date=1918-08-30 |title=Sphagnum as a Surgical Dressing |url=https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.48.1235.203 |journal=Science |language=en |volume=48 |issue=1235 |pages=203–208 |doi=10.1126/science.48.1235.203 |pmid=17779474 |bibcode=1918Sci....48..203H |issn=0036-8075}}</ref>
===Hurricane Katrina controversy===
In March 2006, investigations of allegations of fraud and theft by volunteers and contractors within the American Red Cross Katrina operations were launched by the [[Louisiana]] [[Attorney general#United States|Attorney-General]] and the [[Federal Bureau of Investigation|FBI]].<ref>''[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4851428.stm Red Cross probed on Katrina fraud]'', [[BBC News Online]], [[2006-03-27]]. Retrieved [[2007-04-18]].</ref> <!--[http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=1792791&CMP=OTC-RSSFeeds0312] LINK NOT WORKING--> In response, the American Red Cross increased its internal and external education of the organization's fraud and waste hotline for confidential reporting to a third party agency.{{Fact|date=April 2007}} The organization also elected to implement a background check policy for all volunteers and staff, starting in 2006.{{Fact|date=April 2007}} <!-- [http://www.plainsredcross.org/pdf%20files/backgrnd_chk_fact_sheet.pdf] DOMAIN EXPIRED -->


The power of the American Red Cross was soon recognized by the Government which began to see "the value of overseas aid as a tool of statecraft".<ref name="Irwin 2013 7">{{Cite book |last=Irwin |first=Julia |title=Making the World Safe |year=2013 |page=7}}</ref> The American Red Cross was increasingly being used as an arm of the state to facilitate the realization of American foreign policy objects. Principally, the American Red Cross enhanced America's image abroad while also disseminating American practices and values throughout Europe.<ref name="Irwin 2013 7" /> It intervened in European health and welfare practices by introducing American methods. Moreover, after the Bolsheviks seized power in Russia, President Wilson used the American Red Cross as a diplomacy tool to aid the White forces. Wilson believed that food was the "real thing" to combat Bolshevism and ordered the American Red Cross to distribute food and material relief to Bolshevik opponents in the Russian civil war.<ref>{{Cite book |last=C. Herring |first=George |title=From Colony to Superpower |publisher=Oxford University Press |year=2011 |page=423}}</ref> The American Red Cross, therefore, served the dual functions of assisting the realization of United States foreign policy objectives and promoting international humanitarianism.{{Citation needed|date=October 2023}}
In April 2006, an unnamed former American Red Cross official leaked reports made by the [[International Committee of the Red Cross]] and the [[British Red Cross]]. Such reports are typical in a large-scale disaster relief operation involving other national Red Cross societies to solicit their input, but are usually confidential and not released to the general public. These particular reports were particularly critical of American Red Cross operations in Hurricane Katrina affected regions, although the British Red Cross report highly praised the American Red Cross volunteers in their efforts.<!--[http://www.ngowatch.org/articles.php?id=217] LINK NOT WORKING -->


At the end of the war the League of Red Cross Societies was created. This international society of national Red Cross organizations was spearheaded by the United States and sought the "improvement of health, the prevention of disease, and the mitigation of suffering throughout the world."<ref>{{Cite book |last=Moser Jones |first=Marian |title=The American Red Cross from Clara Barton to the New Deal |year=2013 |page=174}}</ref>
==Other Disaster Responses==
===Comair Air Crash===
In response to the crash of commuter aircraft [[Comair Flight 5191]], the Bluegrass Area Chapter and the American Red Cross Critical Response Team (CRT) members were dispatched to the scene. This was the worst air disaster within the United States since [[American Airlines Flight 587]]. Family and Friends reception centers were established near the arrival and departure airports and in Cincinnati, site of the Comair headquarters. Local chapters in [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]], [[Alabama]], [[Kentucky]] and [[California]] provided health, mental health and spiritual services to family members and friends of the victims not present in Lexington. Volunteers also staffed the local Emergency Operations Center (EOC) in [[Lexington]], the incident command post at the airport site and the State EOC. As of August 29th 2006, 400 meals had been served by the American Red Cross to family and friends of those involved in the crash, in addition to rescue workers. The Red Cross provided emotional and spiritual support to the family members of the victims at a local hotel. Additionally, the Red Cross organized and provided a Memorial Service at the Lexington Opera House for family and friends of the victims. <ref>Lawson, Katie ''[http://www.redcross.org/article/0,1072,0_312_5601,00.html Red Cross Responds to Commercial Jet Crash in Kentucky]'', American Red Cross, [[2006-08-26]]. Retrieved [[2007-04-18]].</ref>


=== Role in Spanish Flu Outbreak of 1918 ===
===2007 Florida Tornadoes===
During the flu pandemic of 1918, American Red Cross chapters were instrumental in establishing both preventive measures and treatment plans within their local communities throughout the United States. The degree to which the Red Cross was involved with pandemic planning was largely dependent on the needs of the community and the actions of local public health authorities, but large cities and their surrounding communities were often dependent on the organization in mitigating the spread of the disease.<ref name="auto">{{Cite journal |last=Jones |first=Marian Moser |date=2010 |title=The American Red Cross and Local Response to the 1918 Influenza Pandemic: A Four-City Case Study |journal=Public Health Reports |volume=125 |issue=Suppl 3 |pages=92–104 |doi=10.1177/00333549101250S312 |issn=0033-3549 |pmc=2862338 |pmid=20568571}}</ref>


Active initiatives undertaken by local chapters included the sewing of masks for local distribution, the production and promotion of educational pamphlets, the establishment of localized motor corps, and providing door-to-door nursing and social services. In some cities, the motor corps functioned both in providing auxiliary ambulatory services and expanding the logistical dispersion of manpower and supplies. The contribution of nurses, goods, services, and local administrative guidance offered by the American Red Cross provided local community leaders with essential support in combating the pandemic.<ref name="auto"/>
In response to the [[Central Florida Tornado of February 2007]], the American Red Cross began a large scale disaster relief operation. At least seven shelters have been opened in the disaster affected region, with [[Southern Baptists]] starting to provide food. 40,000 pre-packaged meals are being sent by the American Red Cross, and across the nation, almost 400 Red Cross volunteers are being deployed to assist with the local relief efforts. The organization has also deployed more than 30 Emergency Response Vehicles for community food and supply distribution. <!--[http://www.redcross.org/pressrelease/0,1077,0_314_6152,00.html] LINK NOT WORKING --><ref>Hackett, Alexandra ''[http://www.tampabays10.com/news/local/article.aspx?storyid=48717 Volunteers descend on Central Florida]'', [[Tampa Bay's 10 News]]. Retrieved [[2007-04-18]].</ref>


=== Interwar European reconstruction ===
===2007 Kansas Tornadoes===
[[File:Loading A.R.C. (American Red Cross) ships at Piraeus LCCN2014716078.jpg|thumb|An American Red Cross Ship in Greece {{circa|1920–1925}}]]
The American Red Cross immediately responded to the [[May 2007 Tornado Outbreak]] in central Kansas by setting up emergency shelters for hundreds of displaced residents and started the distribution of food, water and relief supplies. [http://www.redcross.org/pressrelease/0,1077,0_314_6674,00.html] The 'Safe and Well' family notification website for locating missing loved ones was also activated. [http://www.redcross.org/pressrelease/0,1077,0_314_6675,00.html]
Unlike European relief organization, which had to invest much of their time in fund-raising efforts, the American Red Cross's collaboration with [[Herbert Hoover]]'s [[American Relief Administration]] had funding on a different scale and well as popular and governmental support at its disposal.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Kind-Kovács |first=Friederike |date=2016-01-02 |title=The Great War, the child's body and the American Red Cross |journal=European Review of History: Revue européenne d'histoire |language=en |volume=23 |issue=1–2 |page=34 |doi=10.1080/13507486.2015.1121971 |issn=1350-7486 |doi-access=free |s2cid=147431478}}</ref> With its membership of over 33 million Americans in 1918 (20% of the U.S. population) and its designation as the official U.S. organization for foreign relief by the Geneva Treaty and Congressional mandate, the ARC was neither wholly private nor an official governmental organization.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=lrwin |first=Julia F. |date=July 2009 |title=Nation Building and Rebuilding: The American Red Cross in Italy During the Great War |journal=The Journal of the Gilded Age and Progressive Era |volume=8 |issue=3 |page=408 |doi=10.1017/s1537781400001328 |issn=1537-7814 |s2cid=156519587}}</ref> This quasi-governmental support allowed the ARC to secure credibility and support that was unattainable for other relief organizations such as the [[YMCA]] or [[Knights of Columbus]].{{Citation needed|date=October 2023}}


The ARC's private funding allowed for more flexibility than government organizations, its leaders chose to support U.S. foreign policy in many ways but also often pursued aims that differed from that of the military or political policymakers.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=lrwin |first=Julia F. |date=July 2009 |title=Nation Building and Rebuilding: The American Red Cross in Italy During the Great War |journal=The Journal of the Gilded Age and Progressive Era |volume=8 |issue=3 |page=409 |doi=10.1017/s1537781400001328 |issn=1537-7814 |s2cid=156519587}}</ref> Hundreds of ARC workers pursued permanent reform of Italian social politics, rather than emergency relief they founded nursing schools, developed child welfare projects and waged anti-tuberculosis crusades.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=lrwin |first=Julia F. |date=July 2009 |title=Nation Building and Rebuilding: The American Red Cross in Italy During the Great War |journal=The Journal of the Gilded Age and Progressive Era |volume=8 |issue=3 |page=411 |doi=10.1017/s1537781400001328 |issn=1537-7814 |s2cid=156519587}}</ref> In introducing these American ideas about public health and social welfare, the ARC acted as what historian [[Daniel T. Rodgers]] had referred to as 'brokers of ideas', who facilitated transatlantic exchange on the methods and philosophies of social reform.<ref>{{Cite book |last=RODGERS |first=Daniel T. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SmRoOw503hYC |title=Atlantic Crossings |date=1998 |publisher=Harvard University Press |isbn=978-0-674-00201-2 |page=4 |language=en}}</ref> Work in the ARC allowed American citizens to contribute to transatlantic social reform discourse. ARC workers built upon and expanded the already existing Italian efforts for social reform. ARC reformers embraced a strategic cultural sensitivity as they attempted to work with Italians and help them to take control of their own social institutions. By presenting their reforms as mutual exchange rather than imposed change, ARC workers hoped Italians would willingly accept them.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=lrwin |first=Julia F. |date=July 2009 |title=Nation Building and Rebuilding: The American Red Cross in Italy During the Great War |journal=The Journal of the Gilded Age and Progressive Era |volume=8 |issue=3 |page=439 |doi=10.1017/s1537781400001328 |issn=1537-7814 |s2cid=156519587}}</ref> U.S. reformers in the ARC continued to believe in the necessity of American intervention in 'reforming' Italy.{{Citation needed|date=October 2023}}
===Minneapolis Bridge Collapse===
Following the collapse of the [[I-35W Mississippi River bridge]], the American Red Cross of the Twin Cities Area Chapter responded with their Disaster Action Team to provide families and rescuers food, information and comfort. A family service center was set up close to the accident site, along with deploying mental health counselors to numerous locations.<ref>{{cite news|author=Boone, Beth|title=Red Cross Chapter Serves as Focal Point of Response Efforts|url=http://www.redcross.org/article/0,1072,0_312_6898,00.html|publisher=The American National Red Cross|date=[[2007-08-03]]|accessdate=2007-08-28}} and {{cite press release|title=Red Cross on Scene of Minneapolis I-35W Bridge Collapse|url=http://www.redcross.org/article/0,1072,0_312_6893,00.html|publisher=The American National Red Cross|date=[[2007-08-02]]|accessdate=2007-08-28}}</ref> Donations contributed for this cause totaled US$138,368 and covered the cost of Red Cross services<ref>{{cite news|author=O'Connor, Debra|title=How to give wisely after Minnesota's disasters|url=http://www.twincities.com/collapse/ci_6713803|work=Pioneer Press|publisher=MediaNews Group, Inc.|date=[[2007-08-24]]|accessdate=2007-08-25}}</ref> but not $65,000 in unexpected expenses.<ref>{{cite news|author=Louwagie, Pam|title=Bridge Disaster Fund tops $564,000|url=http://www.startribune.com/462/story/1411927.html|work=Star Tribune|publisher=Avista Capital Partners|date=[[2007-09-10]]|accessdate=2007-09-10}}</ref> Weather conditions and the collapse placed 70% of [[List of counties in Minnesota|Minnesota counties]] in federal primary or contiguous disaster areas during August 2007.<ref>Minnesota designated counties are found in three places: {{cite press release|author=Farm Service Agency Public Affairs Staff|title=USDA DESIGNATES 24 MINNESOTA COUNTIES AS PRIMARY NATURAL DISASTER AREAS|url=http://www.fsa.usda.gov/FSA/newsReleases?area=newsroom&subject=landing&topic=edn&newstype=ednewsrel&type=detail&item=ed_20070807_rel_1497.html|publisher=Farm Service Agency, U.S. Department of Agriculture|date=[[2007-08-07]]|accessdate=2007-08-25}} and {{cite web|title=Disaster Declaration #10991|author=Preston, Steven C., Administrator|url=http://www.sba.gov/idc/groups/public/documents/sba_homepage/serv_mn_scan_10991.pdf|format=PDF|publisher=U.S. Small Business Administration|date=[[2007-08-22]]|accessdate=2007-08-25}} and {{cite press release|title=Designated Counties for Minnesota Severe Storms and Flooding (Disaster Summary For FEMA-1717-DR, Minnesota)|url=http://www.fema.gov/news/newsrelease.fema?id=39090|publisher=Federal Emergency Management Agency|date=[[2007-08-23]], updated [[2007-08-28]]|accessdate=2007-08-28}}</ref> As of [[2007-08-24]] the Red Cross needed Disaster Relief Fund donations for the [[2007 Midwest flooding|flooding]] in the [[Midwestern United States]] including [[Minnesota]] that followed a prolonged [[drought]].<ref>{{cite press release|title=Persistent Flooding Devastates the Midwest and South Central U.S.|url=http://www.redcross.org/pressrelease/0,1077,0_314_6962,00.html|publisher=The American National Red Cross|date=[[2007-08-24]]|accessdate=2007-08-28}}</ref> On [[2007-08-08]], the Twin Cities chapter lowered the United States, state of Minnesota and Red Cross flags to [[half-staff]] indefinitely.<ref>{{cite press release|title=Flags Lowered to Half Staff at Red Cross Headquarters|url=http://www.redcrosstc.org/newsDetail.cfm?page=HOBRGIMY|publisher=American Red Cross Twin Cities Area Chapter|date=[[2007-08-08]]|accessdate=2007-08-26}}</ref>


=== Russian revolution ===
==International Services==
In July 1918 the ARC established a hospital at the entrance of [[Vladivostok]] harbor, followed by eight more hospitals during that year. Vladivostok Refugee hospital was opened in early 1919 in former naval barracks and had up to 250 beds. The ARC provided drugs and medical supplies to Russian hospitals during the civil war.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Khwaja |first=Barbara |date=May 26, 2017 |title=Health Reform in Revolutionary Russia |publisher=Socialist Health Association |url=https://www.sochealth.co.uk/2017/05/26/health-reform-revolutionary-russia/ |access-date=May 26, 2017 |archive-date=August 30, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170830101010/https://www.sochealth.co.uk/2017/05/26/health-reform-revolutionary-russia/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
The American Red Cross, as part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and its nearly 100 million volunteers, educates and mobilizes communities to overcome life-threatening vulnerabilities. The core focus areas of the American Red Cross International Services Department are global health, disaster preparedness and response, and Restoring Family Links and International Humanitarian Law dissemination. The American Red Cross is involved with many international projects, such as the Measles Initiative, malaria programs in Africa, disaster responses worldwide, and relief efforts in response to the 2004 South Asia tsunami.
American Red Cross international disaster response and preparedness programs provide relief and development assistance to millions of people annually who suffer as a result of natural and human-made disasters around the world. To respond quickly and effectively, the American Red Cross has pre-positioned emergency relief supplies in two warehouses managed by the International Federation in Dubai and Panama, which are used to respond to disasters such as the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami disaster, the 2005 Pakistan/South Asia earthquake, ongoing crises in Africa and hurricanes in the Caribbean and the Americas. An Emergency Response Unit (ERU) is another method with which the American Red Cross responds to international emergencies. An ERU is made up of trained personnel and pre-packaged technical equipment that is crucial in responding to sudden, large-scale disasters and emergencies in remote locations.


=== Role in World War Two ===
American Red Cross International Services global health initiatives focus on reducing child mortality, improving maternal health, and combating infectious diseases. Through cost-effective, community-based health interventions, the American Red Cross targets large numbers of people in need and focuses on accessibility and equity of care, community participation, and integration with other community development initiatives, such as water and sanitation projects and food and nutrition programs. An example of its health programming is the Measles Initiative, launched in 2001, as a partnership committed to reducing measles deaths globally, with the goal of cutting measles deaths by 90% by 2010 compared to 2000. Leading these efforts are the American Red Cross, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the United Nations Foundation, UNICEF and the [[World Health Organization]]. During its first five years (2001-2005), the Initiative supported the vaccination of more than 217 million children in Africa, saving 1.2 million lives. Through these efforts, measles cases and deaths have dropped by 48% worldwide and by 60% in Africa, where measles deaths and disability are highest. Building on its success in Africa, the Initiative has expanded into Asia. The Initiative increasingly provides additional complementary life-saving health interventions in its campaigns, including vitamin A, de-worming medicine and insecticide-treated bed nets for malaria prevention. The Measles Initiative has mobilized more than $308 million to support campaigns in more than 43 countries in Africa and Asia.
In the 1940s during World War II, the Red Cross enrolled 7.5 million volunteers along with 39,000 paid staff<ref name="history-wwii">{{Cite web |title=World War II and the American Red Cross |url=https://www.redcross.org/content/dam/redcross/National/history-wwii.pdf |website=American Red Cross |access-date=October 30, 2021 |archive-date=February 5, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220205083903/https://www.redcross.org/content/dam/redcross/National/history-wwii.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> and more than 104,000 nurses<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.redcross.org/content/dam/redcross/National/history-full-history.pdf|title=Red Cross History|access-date=February 5, 2022|archive-date=February 20, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190220063248/https://www.redcross.org/content/dam/redcross/National/history-full-history.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> for military service, prepared 27 million packages for prisoners of war, shipped more than 300,000 tons of supplies, and collected 13.3 million pints of blood plasma for the armed forces.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Our History |url=https://www.redcross.org/about-us/who-we-are/history.html |website=redcross.org |access-date=July 27, 2021 |archive-date=February 5, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120205175815/http://www.redcross.org/museum/pdfs/100dates.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> By the time World War II ended in September 1945, American society contributed over $784 million in support of the American Red Cross.<ref name="history-wwii" />


=== 2005 hurricanes ===
In December 2006, the American Red Cross joined as a founding partner of the Malaria No More campaign, which was formed by leading non-governmental organizations to inspire individuals, institutions and organizations in the private sector to support a comprehensive approach to end malaria, a devastating but preventable disease The American Red Cross role in Malaria No More is to support local Red Cross and Red Crescent volunteers in Africa who are educating families and communities about malaria prevention and treatment, such as proper and consistent use of insecticide-treated bed nets. The American Red Cross provides technical assistance and capacity-building support to its partners to fight malaria in even the most difficult-to-reach communities.
[[File:FEMA - 15337 - Photograph by Andrea Booher taken on 09-10-2005 in Texas.jpg|thumb|Volunteers assist Hurricane victims at the [[Houston Astrodome]], following Hurricane Katrina. ]]
Forecasting a major disaster before the landfall of [[Hurricane Katrina]], ARC enlisted 2,000 volunteers to be on a "stand by" deployment list.{{Citation needed|date=October 2023}}


According to ARC, during and after hurricanes Katrina, [[Hurricane Wilma|Wilma]] and [[Hurricane Rita|Rita]], they opened 1,470 shelters and registered 3.8 million overnight stays. 300,000 American Red Cross workers (82% unpaid) provided sheltering, casework, communication and assessment services throughout these events. In addition, 346,980 comfort kits (which contain hygiene essentials such as toothpaste, soap, washcloths and toys for children) and 205,360 cleanup kits (containing brooms, mops and bleach) were distributed. The organization served 68 million snacks and meals. Disaster Health services provided 596,810 contacts, and Disaster Mental Health services 826,590 contacts. Emergency financial assistance was provided to 1.4 million families, including 4 million people. Katrina was the first natural disaster in the United States that ARC utilized their "Safe and Well" family location website.<ref>{{Cite web |date=August 2006 |title=A Year of Healing |url=http://www.redcross.org/images/pdfs/Katrina_OneYearReport.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120121200321/http://www.redcross.org/images/pdfs/Katrina_OneYearReport.pdf |archive-date=January 21, 2012 |access-date=April 18, 2007 |website=The American Red Cross}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=June 30, 2006 |title=Hurricane Season 2005 |url=http://www.redcross.org/news/ds/hurricanes/2005/facts.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060501000858/http://www.redcross.org/news/ds/hurricanes/2005/facts.html |archive-date=May 1, 2006 |website=American Red Cross}}</ref>
The American Red Cross handles international tracing requests and searches for families who have been separated by war or natural or man-made disaster and are trying to locate relatives worldwide. This is not a genealogical service but one that attempts to re-establish contact between family members separated at a time of war or disaster. Restoring Family Links services also provide the exchange of hand-written Red Cross Messages between individuals and their relatives who may be refugees or prisoners of war. At any given time, the American Red Cross Restoring Family Links program is handling the aftermath of 20-30 wars and conflicts. The world-wide structure of Red Cross and Red Crescent National Societies and the International Committee of the Red Cross make this service possible. When new information from many former Soviet Union archives became available in that 1990s, a special unit, named the Holocaust and War Victims Tracing Center, was created to handle World War II and Holocaust tracing services.
As part of its mission, American Red Cross International Services has a mandate to educate the American public about the guiding principles of international humanitarian law (IHL) for conduct in warfare as set forth by the Geneva Conventions of 1949. In doing so, American Red Cross International Services provides support to American Red Cross chapters nationwide in their IHL dissemination efforts, offering IHL courses and providing training opportunities for IHL instructors. It is also working toward the implementation of the Exploring Humanitarian Law (EHL) program in the United States.


==Service to the Armed Forces==
=== Comair Flight 5191 ===
Following the crash of commuter aircraft [[Comair Flight 5191]], the Bluegrass Area Chapter and ARC Critical Response Team (CRT) members were dispatched. This was the worst air disaster in the United States since [[American Airlines Flight 587]]. Family and Friends reception centers were established near the arrival and departure airports and in [[Cincinnati]], site of the Comair headquarters. Local chapters in [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]], [[Alabama]], [[Kentucky]] and California provided health and mental health services to family and friends not present in Lexington. Volunteers also staffed the local Emergency Operations Center (EOC) in [[Lexington, Kentucky]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lawson |first=Katie |date=August 26, 2006 |title=Red Cross Responds to Commercial Jet Crash in Kentucky |url=http://www.redcross.org/article/0,1072,0_312_5601,00.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070103190555/http://www.redcross.org/article/0,1072,0_312_5601,00.html |archive-date=January 3, 2007 |access-date=April 18, 2007 |publisher=American Red Cross}}</ref>
Although not a government agency, the American Red Cross provides emergency services to the United States military. The most notable service is emergency family communications, where families can contact the Red Cross to send important family messages (such as a death in the family, or new birth). In such, the Red Cross can also act as a verifying agency of the situation. The American Red Cross works closely with other military societies, such as the Veteran's Administration, to provide other services to soldiers and their families. The American Red Cross is not involved with [[prisoners of war]]; rather, these are monitored by the [[International Committee of the Red Cross]], an international body distinctly independent of any nation.


=== 2007 tornadoes ===
For many Second World War veterans, their memory is of the American Red Cross selling "comfort items" such as toothpaste, coffee, donuts and cigarettes to the troops. The American Red Cross acknowledges that they did indeed sell such items, and the unfortunate repercussions have marred the agency's name for many years. In response to such allegations, the American Red Cross responded:<ref>''[http://www.atlantaredcross.org/atf/cf/%7B9C0A352A-B40E-4F7A-AB89-B7D20FF7F10B%7D/WWII%20letter.pdf Materials prepared in 1947 to help chapters answer GI complaints]'' Atlanta Chapter of the American Red Cross. Retrieved [[2007-04-18]].</ref>
[[File:FEMA - 28112 - Photograph by Mark Wolfe taken on 02-06-2007 in Florida.jpg|thumb|ARC is set up in a community hard hit by the tornadoes, Florida, 2007.]]


==== Florida ====
* At the request of the Secretary of War, the American Red Cross charged a nominal fee for coffee and doughnuts, as well as for lodging, barber and valet services, in stationary military installations overseas. It did not charge in mobile facilities such as Clubmobiles.
In response to the [[Central Florida Tornado of February 2007]], ARC began a large scale disaster relief operation. At least seven shelters were opened. 40,000 pre-packaged meals were sent by ARC, and across the nation, almost 400 American Red Cross volunteers were deployed to assist with local relief efforts. The organization deployed more than 30 Emergency Response Vehicles for community food and supply distribution.<ref>{{Cite web |title=American Red Cross Mobilizes Resources in Central Florida: List Your Loved Ones on Safe And Well Website |url=http://www.redcross.org/pressrelease/0,1077,0_314_6152,00.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081222020109/http://www.redcross.org/pressrelease/0%2C1077%2C0_314_6152%2C00.html |archive-date=December 22, 2008 |access-date=October 27, 2015 |website=RedCross.org}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Hackett |first=Alexandra |title=Volunteers descend on Central Florida |url=http://www.tampabays10.com/news/local/article.aspx?storyid=48717 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070302083028/http://www.tampabays10.com/news/local/article.aspx?storyid=48717 |archive-date=March 2, 2007 |access-date=April 18, 2007 |website=tampabays10.com}}</ref>


==== Kansas ====
* This request was made because other agencies working overseas were compelled to charge for similar items. Giving these items free to U.S. service members would, it was feared, demoralize Allied troops.
ARC immediately responded to the [[May 2007 Tornado Outbreak]] in central Kansas by setting up emergency shelters for displaced residents and started the distribution of food, water and relief supplies.<ref>{{Cite press release |title=American Red Cross responding to Midwest Tornadoes |date=May 5, 2007 |url=http://www.redcross.org/pressrelease/0,1077,0_314_6674,00.html |access-date=October 27, 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071211072021/http://www.redcross.org/pressrelease/0%2C1077%2C0_314_6674%2C00.html |archive-date=December 11, 2007 |website=RedCross.org}}</ref>


=== Minneapolis bridge collapse ===
* The official War Department recommendation was made in a letter dated May 20, 1942, written by Mr. Stimson, Secretary of War, and addressed to the Chairman of The American National Red Cross.
Following the collapse of the [[I-35W Mississippi River bridge]], the Twin Cities Area Chapter responded with their [[Disaster Action Team]] to provide food, information and comfort. A family service center was set up, and mental health counselors deployed to numerous locations.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Boone, Beth |date=August 3, 2007 |title=Red Cross Chapter Serves as Focal Point of Response Efforts |publisher=The American National Red Cross |url=http://www.redcross.org/article/0,1072,0_312_6898,00.html |url-status=dead |access-date=August 28, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070811091118/http://www.redcross.org/article/0%2C1072%2C0_312_6898%2C00.html |archive-date=August 11, 2007}} and {{cite press release |title=Red Cross on Scene of Minneapolis I-35W Bridge Collapse |url=http://www.redcross.org/article/0,1072,0_312_6893,00.html |publisher=The American National Red Cross |date=August 2, 2007 |access-date=August 28, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070818164046/http://www.redcross.org/article/0%2C1072%2C0_312_6893%2C00.html |archive-date=August 18, 2007 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Donations contributed for this cause totaled US$138,368 and covered the cost of services<ref>{{Cite news |last=O'Connor, Debra |date=August 24, 2007 |title=How to give wisely after Minnesota's disasters |work=Pioneer Press |url=http://www.twincities.com/collapse/ci_6713803 |url-status=live |access-date=August 25, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071107111724/http://www.twincities.com/collapse/ci_6713803 |archive-date=November 7, 2007}}</ref> but not $65,000 in unexpected expenses.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Louwagie, Pam |date=September 10, 2007 |title=Bridge Disaster Fund tops $564,000 |work=Star Tribune |publisher=Avista Capital Partners |url=http://www.startribune.com/462/story/1411927.html |url-status=dead |access-date=September 10, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071101142811/http://www.startribune.com/462/story/1411927.html |archive-date=November 1, 2007}}</ref> Weather and the collapse placed 70% of [[List of counties in Minnesota|Minnesota counties]] in federal primary or contiguous disaster areas during that August.<ref>Minnesota designated counties are found in three places: {{cite press release|title=USDA Designates 24 Minnesota Counties as Primary Natural Disaster Areas|url=http://www.fsa.usda.gov/FSA/newsReleases?area=newsroom&subject=landing&topic=edn&newstype=ednewsrel&type=detail&item=ed_20070807_rel_1497.html|publisher=Farm Service Agency, U.S. Department of Agriculture|date=August 7, 2007|access-date=August 25, 2007|archive-date=October 4, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081004103620/http://www.fsa.usda.gov/FSA/newsReleases?area=newsroom&subject=landing&topic=edn&newstype=ednewsrel&type=detail&item=ed_20070807_rel_1497.html|url-status=dead}} and {{Cite web |last=Preston, Steven C. |date=August 22, 2007 |title=Disaster Declaration #10991 |url=http://www.sba.gov/idc/groups/public/documents/sba_homepage/serv_mn_scan_10991.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070925195456/http://www.sba.gov/idc/groups/public/documents/sba_homepage/serv_mn_scan_10991.pdf |archive-date=September 25, 2007 |access-date=August 25, 2007 |publisher=U.S. Small Business Administration}} and {{cite press release|title=Designated Counties for Minnesota Severe Storms and Flooding (Disaster Summary For FEMA-1717-DR, Minnesota)|url=http://www.fema.gov/news/newsrelease.fema?id=39090|publisher=Federal Emergency Management Agency|date=August 23, 2007|orig-year=updated August 28, 2007|access-date=August 28, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929100206/http://www.fema.gov/news/newsrelease.fema?id=39090|archive-date=September 29, 2007|url-status=live}}</ref>


=== 2023 Hawaii wildfires ===
== Clara Barton National Historic Site ==
Following the [[2023 Hawaii wildfires|Hawaii wildfires]] in early August 2023, the ARC began a large-scale disaster relief operation (DRO). More than 1,300 volunteers have been deployed since the fires began. In partnership with the county government, the ARC has been able to provide displaced residents with more than 257,000 overnight emergency shelter and hotel room stays on Maui and Oahu.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Red Cross Responds to Climate Disasters Thousands of Miles Apart |url=https://www.redcross.org/about-us/news-and-events/news/2023/red-cross-helps-after-wildfire-and-hurricane.html |access-date=2023-11-17 |website=www.redcross.org |language=en}}</ref>
In [[1975]], [[Clara Barton National Historic Site]] was established as a unit of the [[National Park Service]] at her Glen Echo, Maryland home near [[Washington, D.C.]] The first National Historic Site dedicated to the accomplishments of a woman, it preserves the early history of the American Red Cross and the last home of its founder. Clara Barton spent the last 15 years of her life in her Glen Echo home, and it served as an early headquarters of the American Red Cross as well.


== International services ==
The National Park Service has restored eleven rooms, including the Red Cross offices, parlors and Miss Barton's bedroom. Visitors to Clara Barton National Historic Site can gain a sense of how Miss Barton lived and worked surrounded by all that went into her life's work. Visitors to the site are led through the three levels on a guided tour emphasizing Miss Barton's use of her unusual home, and come to appreciate the site in the same way visitors did in Clara Barton's lifetime.<ref>''[http://www.nps.gov/clba/house.htm Clara Barton National Historic Site: The House]'', [[National Park Service]] website. Retrieved [[2007-04-18]].</ref>
{{more citations needed section|date = October 2023}}
ARC, as part of the [[International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement]] and its nearly 100 million volunteers, educates and mobilizes communities to overcome life-threatening vulnerabilities. ARC International Services Department focuses on global health, disaster preparedness and response, [[Restoring Family Links]] and international humanitarian law dissemination. ARC is involved with international projects, including the Measles and Rubella Partnership, the migration and refugee crisis, and the Nepal earthquake.<ref>The American National Red Cross. (n.d.). ''International services''. American Red Cross. https://www.redcross.org/about-us/our-work/international-services.html</ref><ref>The American National Red Cross. (n.d.). ''Measles & rubella partnership''. American Red Cross.https://www.redcross.org/about-us/our-work/international-services/measles-and-rubella-initiative.html</ref>


=== Disaster preparedness and response ===
==Celebrity Cabinet==
ARC international disaster response and preparedness programs provide relief and development assistance to millions of people annually who suffer as a result of natural and human-made disasters. To respond quickly and effectively, ARC has pre-positioned emergency relief supplies in three warehouses managed by the International Federation in Dubai, Malaysia, and Panama that are used to respond to disasters. An Emergency Response Unit (ERU) is another method with which ARC responds to international emergencies. An ERU is made up of trained personnel and pre-packaged equipment that is crucial in responding to sudden, large-scale disasters and emergencies in remote locations. American Red Cross ERUs specialize in providing emergency relief supplies and IT and Telecommunications for American Red Cross response operations.<ref>{{Cite web |last=International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies |title=Types of ERU – IFRC |url=http://www.ifrc.org/en/what-we-do/disaster-management/responding/disaster-response-system/dr-tools-and-systems/eru/types-of-eru/ |access-date=August 18, 2011 |archive-date=August 11, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110811041139/http://www.ifrc.org/en/what-we-do/disaster-management/responding/disaster-response-system/dr-tools-and-systems/eru/types-of-eru/ |url-status=live }}</ref>


ARC works with the Red Cross Red Crescent network to aid countries after disasters. ARC provides relief after a request from a country in need and then uses trained disaster responders and relief supplies strategically positioned worldwide to respond immediately. ARC may also provide financial aid to disaster relief efforts using donations given to the organization. The Ebola Outbreak in West Africa, Hurricane Dorian in the Bahamas, and Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines are some of the international disasters that ARC has responded to.<ref>The American National Red Cross. (n.d.). ''International disasters and crises''. American Red Cross. https://www.redcross.org/about-us/our-work/international-services/international-disasters-and-crises.html</ref>
Every year, the American Red Cross establishes a "National Celebrity Cabinet", started in 2002 as part of the "Entertainment Outreach Program" to help the ARC highlight initiatives and response efforts.


==== Flood prevention in the Huai River valley ====
The public figures are described as being "on-call" to help the Red Cross by donating their time to lend their names to various projects.<ref>''[http://www.redcross.org/press/mediarel/ncc.html American Red Cross National Celebrity Cabinet]'', ARC website. Retrieved [[2007-09-24]].</ref>
In 1911, the ARC initiated its first international disaster-prevention project in the [[Huai River]] Valley. The ARC hired engineers to redirect the Huai River to prevent the yearly flooding that ruined crops and caused famine.<ref>{{Cite book |title=The American Red Cross from Clara Barton to the New Deal |date=2012 |isbn=9781421408231 |page=140 |doi=10.1353/book.21077|last1=Jones |first1=Marian Moser }}</ref> Key engineer within the project, C.D. Jameson, recommended a financial commitment to drainage, flood prevention, and land reclamation which he promised would result in 'the elimination of the suffering, starvation, and degeneration of several millions of people', which would substantially reduce 'unrest and lawlessness'.<ref>{{Cite book |last=IRWIN, JULIA F. |title=MAKING THE WORLD SAFE : the american red cross and a nation's humanitarian awakening. |date=2017 |publisher=OXFORD University Press |isbn=978-0-19-061074-6 |page=45 |oclc=959033970}}</ref> The plan's ambition to re-engineer the Chinese landscape was representative of the increasingly global ambitions of the ARC and the new direction the organization was taking prior to World War I.{{Citation needed|date=October 2023}}


==== Haiti ====
2007 members include [[Kristen Bell]], [[Zach Braff]], [[Pierce Brosnan]], [[Jackie Chan]], [[George Foreman]], [[Vivica Fox]], [[The Rock (entertainer)|The Rock]], [[Eli Manning]], Dr [[Phil McGraw]], [[Julianne Moore]], [[Jane Seymour]] and [[Daddy Yankee]].<ref>''[http://www.redcross.org/news/other/entertainment/natcelebcab/2007_members.asp National Celebrity Cabinet 2007 Members]'', ARC website. Retrieved [[2007-09-24]].</ref>
On January 12, 2010, a [[Moment magnitude scale|magnitude 7.0&nbsp;M<sub>w</sub>]] [[2010 Haiti earthquake|earthquake]] struck the [[Haiti]]an coast 10 miles from the capital of [[Port-au-Prince]], causing massive damage, more than 200,000 deaths and displacing nearly 2 million people.


As of March 2011, ARC announced it had allocated $314 million for Haiti earthquake relief and recovery. ARC funded recovery projects to provide transitional homes, health services, disaster preparedness, water and sanitation improvements and livelihoods development. It provided funds for school fees for affected families. As of June 2011, ARC had raised approximately $484 million for Haiti relief and recovery efforts.<ref>{{Cite web |title=June 2011 Progress Report for the American Red Cross Response |url=http://www.redcross.org/www-files/Documents/pdf/international/Haiti/HaitiEarthquake_18MonthReport.pdf |access-date=August 18, 2011 |archive-date=August 14, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110814202503/http://www.redcross.org/www-files/Documents/pdf/international/Haiti/HaitiEarthquake_18MonthReport.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>
==References==
{{reflist}}


A series of reports by [[NPR]] and [[ProPublica]] found that much of the money Americans donated never made it to help people in Haiti and promises to rebuild neighborhoods were never met.<ref>{{Cite news |title=In Search of the Red Cross' $500 Million in Haiti Relief |publisher=NPR |url=https://www.npr.org/2015/06/03/411524156/in-search-of-the-red-cross-500-million-in-haiti-relief |access-date=April 6, 2018 |archive-date=July 31, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160731080724/http://www.npr.org/2015/06/03/411524156/in-search-of-the-red-cross-500-million-in-haiti-relief |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=Report: Red Cross Spent 25 Percent of Haiti Donations on Internal Expenses |publisher=NPR |url=https://www.npr.org/2016/06/16/482020436/senators-report-finds-fundamental-concerns-about-red-cross-finances |access-date=April 6, 2018 |archive-date=April 7, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180407011727/https://www.npr.org/2016/06/16/482020436/senators-report-finds-fundamental-concerns-about-red-cross-finances |url-status=live }}</ref>
==Further reading==
*[[Foster Rhea Dulles]] ''American Red Cross'' (Harper & Brothers, 1952)
*[[Charles Hurd]] ''The Compact History of the American Red Cross'' (Hawthorn Books, Inc., 1959)
*[[Kevin R. Kosar]] ''The Congressional Charter of the American National Red Cross: Overview, History, and Analysis'' http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/RL33314.pdf
*[[Kevin R. Kosar]] ''The Red Cross Response to the Mississippi Flood of 1927'' http://fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/RL33126.pdf


==See also==
=== Global health ===
ARC International Services global health initiatives focus on preventing and combating infectious diseases such as HIV/AIDS and [[measles]] on a large scale. Through cost-effective, community-based health interventions, ARC targets people in need and focuses on accessibility and equity of care, community participation, and integration with other community development initiatives, such as water and sanitation projects and food and nutrition programs.{{Citation needed|date=October 2023}}
*[[Red Cross]]
*[[First aid]]
*[[cardiopulmonary resuscitation|CPR]]
*[[List of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies]]
*[[Johnstown Flood]]
*[[Medical Cadet Corps]]


An example of ARC International Services health programming is the [[Measles Initiative]], launched in 2001, as a partnership committed to reducing measles deaths globally. The initiative provides technical and financial support to governments and communities on vaccination campaigns and disease surveillance worldwide. Leading these efforts are ARC, the U.S. [[Centers for Disease Control and Prevention]], the [[United Nations Foundation]], [[UNICEF]] and the [[World Health Organization]]. The Measles Initiative has supported vaccination campaigns in more than 60 countries, mostly in Africa and Asia. Since 2001, the initiative has helped vaccinate one billion children in more than 60 developing countries.<ref>{{Cite web|title=UN Foundation – The Measles Initiative Vaccinates One Billion Children in first decade|date=August 4, 2011 |url=https://unfoundation.org/media/the-measles-initiative-vaccinates-one-billion-children-in-first-decade/|access-date=August 18, 2011|archive-date=May 15, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230515013413/https://unfoundation.org/media/the-measles-initiative-vaccinates-one-billion-children-in-first-decade/|url-status=live}}</ref> The initiative supported the distribution of more than 37 million insecticide-treated mosquito nets for malaria prevention, 81 million doses of de-worming medicine, 95 million doses of polio vaccine, and 186 million doses of [[vitamin A]].{{Citation needed|date=October 2023}}
==External links==
*[http://www.redcross.org Official website]
*[https://www.givelife.org Blood Donations]
*[http://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm/bay/content.view/cpid/624.htm Interview with new American Red Cross CEO Mark Everson]
*[http://www.blitzkriegbaby.de/ ARC history and WWII women's uniforms in color] &mdash; WWII US women's service organizations (ARC, WAC, WAVES, ANC, NNC, USMCWR, PHS, SPARS and WASP)]
* [http://www.washingtonhistory.org/wshs/research/finding_aids.htm] provides finding aid to article subject from the Special Collections, Washington State Historical Society (WSHS)


As of January 1, 2023, the initiative became known as the Measles & Rubella Partnership. The Measles Initiative had been previously renamed in 2012, when the founding members of the organization decided on the inclusion of rubella elimination to the program, changing the name to the Measles and Rubella Initiative. The change to the Measles & Rubella Partnership came after the adoption of the Measles and Rubella Strategic Framework 2030. With the change, new core partners Gavi and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation have been added.<ref>World Health Organization. (2023, February 22). ''A new era in the fight against measles and rubella''. World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/news/item/22-02-2023-a-new-era-in-the-fight-against-measles-and-rubella</ref>
[[Category:Charities based in the United States]]
[[Category:Red Cross national societies]]
[[Category:1881 establishments]]
[[Category:Congressional Gold Medal recipients|Red Cross]]
[[Category:Non-governmental organizations]]


In December 2006, ARC became a founding partner of the Malaria No More campaign. The campaign was formed by leading non-governmental organizations to inspire individuals, institutions, and organizations in the private sector to support a comprehensive approach to end [[malaria]], a devastating but preventable disease. ARC supported local Red Cross and Red Crescent volunteers in Africa who educated families and communities about malaria prevention and treatment, such as the proper and consistent use of [[insecticide]]-treated bed nets. ARC provided technical assistance and capacity-building support to its partners in difficult-to-reach communities.{{Citation needed|date=October 2023}}
[[de:Amerikanisches Rotes Kreuz]]

[[ms:Palang Merah Amerika]]
=== International tracing requests ===
ARC handles international tracing requests and searches for families who have been separated. This service attempts to re-establish contact between separated family members. [[Restoring Family Links]] services provide the exchange of hand-written Red Cross Messages between individuals and their relatives who may be refugees or prisoners of war. At any given time, ARC Restoring Family Links program is handling the aftermath of 20–30 wars and conflicts. The worldwide structure of Red Cross and Red Crescent National Societies and the International Committee of the Red Cross make this service possible. When new information from former Soviet Union archives became available in the 1990s, a special unit was created to handle [[World War II]] and [[The Holocaust|Holocaust]] tracing services.{{Citation needed|date=October 2023}}

=== International humanitarian law ===
ARC International Services educates the American public about the guiding principles of international humanitarian law (IHL) for conduct in warfare as set forth by the [[Third Geneva Convention|Geneva Conventions of 1949]]. In doing so, ARC International Services provides support to ARC chapters in their IHL dissemination efforts, offering courses and providing instructor training.{{Citation needed|date=October 2023}}

== Service to the Armed Forces ==
[[File:Poster-red-cross-volunteer-for-victory.jpg|thumb|A World War II-era poster encouraged American women to volunteer for the Red Cross as part of the war effort.]]
ARC provides emergency and non-emergency services to the United States military. The most notable service is emergency family communications, where families can contact the Red Cross to send important family messages (such as a death in the family, or new birth). ARC can also act as a verifying agency.<ref>{{Cite news |last=McDonald |first=Jeff |date=January 19, 2013 |title=Military notification funds spent other ways Red Cross programs that got funding included Bike-O-Rama, Starbucks giveaway |work=The San Diego Union-Tribune |url=http://m.utsandiego.com/news/2013/jan/19/military-call-center-funds-go-elsewhere-red-cross/ |url-status=dead |access-date=January 21, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150510040408/http://m.utsandiego.com/news/2013/jan/19/military-call-center-funds-go-elsewhere-red-cross/ |archive-date=May 10, 2015}}</ref> The agency operates [[call center]]s to provide these services.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Jowers |first=Karen |date=June 4, 2015 |title=Red Cross begins to address hotline problems |work=Military Times |url=http://www.militarytimes.com/story/military/benefits/2015/06/02/technical-difficulties-shut-down-red-cross-military-hotline/28368883/ |access-date=June 12, 2015 |archive-date=October 9, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161009163734/http://www.militarytimes.com/story/military/benefits/2015/06/02/technical-difficulties-shut-down-red-cross-military-hotline/28368883/ |url-status=live }}</ref> ARC works closely with other military societies, such as the [[United States Department of Veterans Affairs|Department of Veterans Affairs]], to provide other services to service members and their families. ARC is not involved with [[prisoners of war]]; these are monitored by the [[International Committee of the Red Cross]], the international body.{{Citation needed|date=October 2023}}

[[File:Carney Airfield, Solomon Islands, Red Cross girl. August 1944.jpg|left|thumb|180px|[[Carney Airfield]], [[Guadalcanal]], Solomon Islands Red Cross girl, August 1944]]
One criticism of American Red Cross services to the military stems from stories about ARC charging troops during the Second World War and [[Korean War]] token fees for "comfort items" such as toothpaste, coffee, donuts, and cigarettes and for off-base food and lodging. The fee suggestion had been made in a letter dated March 1942 from the Secretary of War [[Henry L. Stimson]] to Norman H. Davis, the chairman of ARC. The suggestion was that Allied soldiers were being charged money so Americans should be charged too so as to "ensure an equitable distribution among all service personnel of American Red Cross resources".<ref>{{Cite web |date=April 10, 1946 |title=The Milwaukee Journal – Milwaukee Public Library |url=https://mpl.org/databases/all/66 |url-access=subscription |access-date=15 May 2023}}</ref><!-- Original Google News Link: https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1499&dat=19460410&id=nB0aAAAAIBAJ&pg=1910,3975760 --> The American Red Cross adopted the Secretary's suggestion as policy.<ref>{{Cite web |date=September 11, 2005 |title=Red Cross Charges for Assistance |url=http://www.snopes.com/medical/emergent/redcross.asp |access-date=March 8, 2012 |publisher=Snopes.com}}</ref>

During World War II, ARC operated the [[American Red Cross Clubmobile Service]] to provide servicemen with food, entertainment and "a connection home." In a June 18, 1945, address to Congress, General [[Dwight D. Eisenhower]] said of the American Red Cross service in World War II, "The Red Cross, with its clubs for recreation, its coffee and doughnuts in the forward areas, its readiness to meet the needs of the well and to help minister to the wounded has often seemed the friendly hand of this nation, reaching across the sea to sustain its fighting men."<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Cox |first1=Leona |title=Destination Unknown |last2=Cox |first2=Kathleen |year=2009 |publisher=CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform |isbn=978-1-4664-1248-4}}</ref> An account of one World War II American Red Cross Girl is recorded in ''Destination Unknown'' by Kathleen Cox; her mother, LeOna Cox, was recruited to American Red Cross Service by a fellow teacher at [[Allegheny College]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cox |first=Kathleen |date=April 26, 2013 |title=Book Presentation Webcast |url=http://www.pritzkermilitarylibrary.org/Home/kathleen-cox.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130628071542/https://www.pritzkermilitarylibrary.org/Home/kathleen-cox.aspx |archive-date=June 28, 2013 |access-date=July 20, 2013}}</ref> Another account of an American Red Cross World War II worker is related in letters by Evelyn Merritt Welden, compiled in the book ''How to Play During a War: A Free Spirit's Life in Letters'', by her son, Lynne Whelden.<ref>How to Play During a War: A Free Spirit's Life in Letters

Evelyn Merritt, Lynne Merritt Whelden

Lynne Whelden Productions, 2007</ref>[[File:Great Lakes Naval Hospital 1966 - American Red Cross - Jennie Frankel and Terrie Frankel perform for wounded soldiers.jpeg|thumb|Great Lakes Naval Hospital 1966, Jennie and Terrie Frankel perform for wounded soldiers.]]
{{anchor|ARCSROP}}
During the [[Vietnam War]] 627 American women served in the '''ARC Supplemental Recreation Overseas Program'''. At the invitation of the [[United States Army]] the "Donut Dollies" provided morale-boosting games to soldiers. Due to the mobility of the [[UH-1 Iroquois]], Vietnam Donut Dollies were able to visit troops in forwarding operating positions. The 2008 documentary film ''[[A Touch of Home: The Vietnam War's Red Cross Girls]]'' tells the story of these women. ARC also provided services to entertain wounded soldiers at the Great Lakes Naval Hospital during the Vietnam War.{{Citation needed|date=October 2023}}

In 2011, the Service to the Armed Forces (SAF) unit was reorganized and began receiving $24 million per year from Congress for operating expenses. Along with being downsized there was a consolidation into four regional locations (San Diego, California, Ft. Sill, Oklahoma, Louisville, Kentucky, and Springfield, Massachusetts). In 2012 the first stories began breaking about long call times and the poor quality of response from call takers,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2012-08-24 |title=Red Cross Attention to Military Members' Needs Questioned |url=http://www.10news.com/news/team-10/red-cross-attention-to-military-members-needs-questioned |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161121105123/http://www.10news.com/news/team-10/red-cross-attention-to-military-members-needs-questioned |archive-date=November 21, 2016 |access-date=November 21, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/2012/nov/13/military-call-hubs-now-handle-disasters-too/|title=Military Call Hubs Now Handle Disasters Too}}</ref> along with questions about whether money was being used appropriately.<ref>{{Cite web |date=January 19, 2013 |title=Military notification funds spent other ways |url=http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/watchdog/sdut-military-call-center-funds-go-elsewhere-red-cross-2013jan19-htmlstory.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161011055725/http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/watchdog/sdut-military-call-center-funds-go-elsewhere-red-cross-2013jan19-htmlstory.html |archive-date=October 11, 2016 |access-date=November 21, 2016}}</ref> In 2015, the San Diego and Springfield locations were closed because an online option for families was implemented.<ref>{{Cite web |title=American Red Cross to close San Diego emergency call center for military families - 10News.com KGTV ABC10 San Diego |url=http://www.10news.com/news/investigations/american-red-cross-to-close-san-diego-emergency-call-center-for-military-families |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161121103331/http://www.10news.com/news/investigations/american-red-cross-to-close-san-diego-emergency-call-center-for-military-families |archive-date=November 21, 2016 |access-date=November 21, 2016}}</ref>

== Controversies ==

=== Johnson & Johnson suit over Red Cross image ===
{{further|Emblems of the Red Cross#Johnson & Johnson v. American Red Cross}}
[[File:Flag of the Red Cross.svg|alt=|thumb|The [[Emblems of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement|red cross]] flag. The American Red Cross flag logo.]]
On August 7, 2007,<ref>{{Cite web |title=J&J (NYSE: JNJ) Sues Red Cross Over Use of Red Cross Emblem |url=http://www.redcross.org/pressrelease/0,1077,0_314_6907,00.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080307074632/http://www.redcross.org/pressrelease/0%2C1077%2C0_314_6907%2C00.html |archive-date=March 7, 2008}}</ref> [[Johnson & Johnson]] (J&J) filed suit against ARC over its sub licensing of the International Red Cross image for the production of first aid kits and similar products, which it alleged competed with the company's products. The suit also asked for the destruction of all non-Johnson & Johnson Red Cross Emblem bearing products and demanded that ARC pay [[punitive damages]] and J&J's legal fees.

The American Red Cross' position was that it had licensed its name to first aid kit makers in an effort to encourage readiness for disasters and that license revenues supported humanitarian work.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Foley |first=Stephen |date=August 10, 2007 |title=Johnson & Johnson sues the Red Cross |work=The Independent |location=London |url=http://news.independent.co.uk/business/news/article2851498.ece |url-status=dead |access-date=April 23, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071230185139/http://news.independent.co.uk/business/news/article2851498.ece |archive-date=December 30, 2007}}</ref> J&J claimed that the American Red Cross's commercial ventures were outside the scope of historically well-agreed usage and were in direct violation of federal statutes.<ref name="jnj_pressrelease">{{Cite web |date=August 9, 2007 |title=Johnson & Johnson Press Release: Statement on Civil Complaint Against The American National Red Cross |url=http://www.jnj.com/news/jnj_news/20070809_081717.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070820084651/http://www.jnj.com/news/jnj_news/20070809_081717.htm |archive-date=August 20, 2007}}</ref>

On May 14, 2008, a federal judge ruled against J&J.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Opinion and order by U.S. District Court Judge Jed S. Rakoff |url=http://docs.justia.com/cases/federal/district-courts/new-york/nysdce/1:2007cv07061/311173/79/ |access-date=March 8, 2012 |publisher=Docs.justia.com |archive-date=January 13, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150113130053/http://docs.justia.com/cases/federal/district-courts/new-york/nysdce/1:2007cv07061/311173/79/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> In June 2008, the two organizations announced a settlement had been reached allowing both parties to use the symbol.<ref>{{Cite web |date=June 18, 2008 |title=Claim Over Red Cross Symbol Is Settled |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/18/business/18cross.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160210025015/http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/18/business/18cross.html |archive-date=February 10, 2016 |website=The New York Times}}</ref>

=== Court ordered consent decree ===
The FDA took court action against ARC in response to deficiencies in their procedures for ensuring blood supply safety. The resulting consent decree outlines violations of federal law that ARC engaged in before 1993.<ref>{{Cite web |date=April 13, 2003 |title=Consent Decree Notification |url=https://www.fda.gov/ora/frequent/letters/1000123507_ARC/consent_decree_100023507_01.html |access-date=April 18, 2007 |website=U.S. Food and Drug Administration|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030628133218/https://www.fda.gov/ora/frequent/letters/1000123507_ARC/consent_decree_100023507_01.html |archive-date=June 28, 2003 }}</ref> ARC paid millions of dollars in fines.{{Citation needed|date=October 2023}}

ARC Biomedical Services instituted a standardized computer system to maintain the blood donor database; five National Testing Laboratories (NTLs) that test some six million units of blood annually;<ref>{{Cite web |title=American Red Cross > Blood Services > National Testing Laboratories |url=http://www.redcross.org/services/biomed/0,1082,0_494_,00.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080518111637/http://www.redcross.org/services/biomed/0%2C1082%2C0_494_%2C00.html |archive-date=May 18, 2008 |access-date=July 3, 2008}}</ref> the [[Charles R. Drew|Charles Drew]] Biomedical Institute, which provides training and other educational resources to Red Cross Blood Services' personnel; a Quality Assurance/Regulatory Affairs Department, which helps to ensure regulatory compliance; and, a centrally managed blood inventory system.{{Citation needed|date=October 2023}}

The consent decree was amended in 2003 with penalties for specific violations.{{Citation needed|date=October 2023}}

The FDA could impose penalties after April, 2003 up to the following maximum amounts:{{Citation needed|date=October 2023}}
* $10,000 per event (and $10,000 per day) for any violation of an ARC standard operating procedure (SOP), the law, or consent decree requirement and timeline
* $50,000 for the preventable release of each unit of blood for which the FDA finds a reasonable probability of serious adverse health consequences
** $5,000 for the release of each unit that may cause temporary problems, up to a maximum of $500,000 per event
* $50,000 for the improper re-release of each unsuitable blood unit that was returned to ARC inventory
* $10,000 for each donor inappropriately omitted from the [[National Donor Deferral Registry]], a list of all unsuitable donors

The FDA continued to apply pressure and fines to ARC in order to enforce compliance with regulations, including a $1.7 million fine in June 2008.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Harris |first=Gardiner |date=June 10, 2008 |title=Red Cross Is Fined For Blood Violations |newspaper=The Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/06/09/AR2008060902695.html |access-date=July 27, 2008 |archive-date=June 12, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080612102225/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/06/09/AR2008060902695.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

ARC worked closely with the FDA to develop a more robust system. The systems resulted in a five-year period of sustained compliance that led to the release from the Consent Decree as of December 4, 2015.<ref>{{Cite web |date=December 15, 2015 |title=Red Cross Gets Blood Consent Decree Lifted |url=http://www.thenonprofittimes.com/news-articles/red-cross-gets-blood-consent-decree-lifted |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160530020334/http://www.thenonprofittimes.com/news-articles/red-cross-gets-blood-consent-decree-lifted |archive-date=May 30, 2016 |access-date=December 22, 2015 |website=The Nonprofit Times}}</ref>

=== Blood donation controversy ===
{{Main|MSM blood donor controversy}}
ARC faced criticism from [[LGBTQ|lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer]] (LGBTQ+) advocacy organizations for prohibiting [[men who have sex with men]] (MSM) from donating blood. This policy was an FDA requirement for all blood collection companies and organizations in the United States. Specifically, the FDA instructs blood collection organizations to "defer for 12 months from the most recent sexual contact, a man who has had sex with another man during the past 12 months".<ref>{{Cite web |date=March 14, 2019 |title=Revised Recommendations for Reducing the Risk of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Transmission by Blood and Blood Products |url=https://www.fda.gov/downloads/BiologicsBloodVaccines/GuidanceComplianceRegulatoryInformation/Guidances/Blood/UCM446580.pdf |website=[[Food and Drug Administration]] |access-date=December 16, 2019 |archive-date=April 12, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190412135002/https://www.fda.gov/downloads/BiologicsBloodVaccines/GuidanceComplianceRegulatoryInformation/Guidances/Blood/UCM446580.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> Consequently, ARC was legally unable to collect blood from such men. In 2006, along with the [[AABB]] and [[America's Blood Centers]], ARC petitioned the FDA to remove the requirement from blood donations, citing better screening technologies.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Red Cross calls for end to ban on gay blood donors |url=http://www.advocate.com/news_detail_ektid27945.asp |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060316100845/http://www.advocate.com/news_detail_ektid27945.asp |archive-date=March 16, 2006 |website=Advocate.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=May 30, 2007 |title=American Red Cross Fights Ban on Gays' Blood |publisher=NPR |url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=10540971 |access-date=March 8, 2012 |archive-date=November 17, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111117162810/http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=10540971 |url-status=live }}</ref> In August 2020, the American Red Cross reported on its website that its deferral of MSM from donating blood for 3 months after any sexual contact with another man is aligned with the newly updated guidance issued by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Eligibility Criteria by Topic |url=https://www.redcrossblood.org/donate-blood/how-to-donate/eligibility-requirements/lgbtq-donors.html |access-date=January 25, 2022 |archive-date=January 24, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180124171950/https://www.redcrossblood.org/donating-blood/lgbtq-donors |url-status=live }}</ref> Then in May 2023, the FDA approved a policy to allow "monogamous gay and bi men (MSM) to finally donate blood immediately" - however would take some time to fully implement across the whole [[United States of America]]. An automatic 3-month deferred period still continually applies to non-monogamous individuals, regardless of sexual orientation, who have anal sex.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/gay-bisexual-men-can-donate-blood-new-fda-rules-rcna83937 |title=More gay and bisexual men can donate blood under new FDA rules |website=[[NBC News]] |date=May 11, 2023 |access-date=May 14, 2023 |archive-date=May 14, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230514125426/https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/gay-bisexual-men-can-donate-blood-new-fda-rules-rcna83937 |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Hurricane Katrina controversy ===
In March, 2006, investigations of allegations of fraud and theft by volunteers and contractors within ARC Katrina operations were launched by the [[Louisiana]] [[Attorney general#United States|Attorney-General]] and the [[Federal Bureau of Investigation]] (FBI).<ref>{{Cite web |date=March 27, 2006 |title=Red Cross probed on Katrina fraud |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4851428.stm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161024041259/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4851428.stm |archive-date=October 24, 2016 |access-date=April 18, 2007 |website=BBC News Online}}</ref> In response, ARC increased its internal and external education of the organization's fraud and a waste hotline for confidential reporting to a third-party agency.{{Citation needed|date=April 2007}} The organization also elected to implement a background check policy for all volunteers and staff, starting in 2006.<ref>{{Cite web |date=July 2006 |title=Background Check Fact Sheet |url=http://www.plainsredcross.org/pdf%20files/backgrnd_chk_fact_sheet.pdf |website=PlainsRedCross.org|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070129021024/http://www.plainsredcross.org/pdf%20files/backgrnd_chk_fact_sheet.pdf |archive-date=January 29, 2007 }}</ref>

In April 2006, an unnamed former ARC official leaked reports made by the [[International Committee of the Red Cross]] and the [[British Red Cross]]. Such reports are typical of a large-scale disaster relief operation involving other national Red Cross societies to solicit their input, but are usually confidential and not released to the general public. These particular reports were particularly critical of ARC operations in Katrina-affected regions, although the British Red Cross report strongly praised ARC volunteers for their efforts.{{citation needed|date=March 2018}}

=== Question of spending in Haitian earthquake relief ===
After the [[2010 Haiti earthquake]], the Red Cross raised $490 million in relief donations.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.redcross.org/content/dam/redcross/International-Services/Haiti-10-year-pie-chart-FINAL.jpg|title=Haiti 10-Year Pie Chart JPG file|access-date=October 17, 2022|archive-date=October 18, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221018214425/https://www.redcross.org/content/dam/redcross/International-Services/Haiti-10-year-pie-chart-FINAL.jpg|url-status=live}}</ref> The charts put to the press claim that a substantial amount was spent in the years following, but first-person accounts share another story.<ref>{{Cite web |title=In Search of the Red Cross' $500 Million in Haiti Relief |url=https://www.npr.org/2015/06/03/411524156/in-search-of-the-red-cross-500-million-in-haiti-relief |website=NPR.org |publisher=NPR |access-date=April 6, 2018 |archive-date=July 31, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160731080724/http://www.npr.org/2015/06/03/411524156/in-search-of-the-red-cross-500-million-in-haiti-relief |url-status=live }}</ref> As of 2015, a total of six homes were built.<ref>{{Cite web |title=How the Red Cross Raised Half a Billion Dollars for Haiti and Built Six Homes |url=https://www.propublica.org/article/how-the-red-cross-raised-half-a-billion-dollars-for-haiti-and-built-6-homes |website=propublica.org |publisher=ProPublica |access-date=August 15, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230815140826/https://www.propublica.org/article/how-the-red-cross-raised-half-a-billion-dollars-for-haiti-and-built-6-homes |archive-date=August 15, 2023}}</ref>

=== Storms controversy (Hurricane Sandy, Isaac, other major storms) ===
In October 2014, independent public interest news broadcasters [[NPR]] and [[ProPublica]] published investigative reports on the Red Cross's handling of US East Coast Hurricanes [[Hurricane Sandy|Sandy]] and [[Hurricane Isaac (2012)|Isaac]], citing internal Red Cross documents and interviews with former Red Cross and government officials. It criticized the organization's response in failing to meet the immediate needs of victims. It also described "an organization so consumed with public relations that it hindered the charity's ability to provide disaster services."<ref>{{Cite news |date=October 29, 2014 |title=Red Cross 'Diverted Assets' During Storms' Aftermath To Focus On Image |publisher=NPR |url=https://www.npr.org/2014/10/29/359365276/on-superstorm-sandy-anniversary-red-cross-under-scrutiny |access-date=January 27, 2019 |archive-date=March 30, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190330162930/https://www.npr.org/2014/10/29/359365276/on-superstorm-sandy-anniversary-red-cross-under-scrutiny |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=October 29, 2014 |title=Red Cross defends response to Hurricane Sandy two years on |publisher=PBS |url=https://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/red-cross-defends-response-hurricane-sandy-two-years/ |access-date=October 27, 2015 |archive-date=October 27, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151027104844/http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/red-cross-defends-response-hurricane-sandy-two-years/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last1=Elliott |first1=Justin |last2=Eisinger |first2=Jesse |last3=Sullivan |first3=Laura |date=October 29, 2014 |title=The Red Cross' Secret Disaster |url=https://www.propublica.org/article/the-red-cross-secret-disaster |access-date=October 27, 2015 |website=Propublica.org |publisher=ProPublica and NPR |archive-date=October 26, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151026215734/https://www.propublica.org/article/the-red-cross-secret-disaster |url-status=live }}</ref>

== See also ==
* [[American Red Cross Motor Corps]]
* [[American Red Cross Volunteer Life Saving Corps]]

== References ==
{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}

== Further reading ==
* Bane, Suda Lorena, and Ralph Haswell Lutz, eds. ''Organization of American Relief in Europe, 1918–1919'' (Stanford University Press, 1943).
* Davison, Henry P. ''The American Red Cross in the Great War'' (The Macmillan Company, 1919).
* Dulles, Foster Rhea. ''The American Red Cross: A History.'' (New York: Harper and Brothers, 1950).
* Egan, Timothy B. and Thanousone Pravongviengkham. "American Red Cross: A History and Analysis" (Defense Technical Information Center, 2016) [https://archive.org/details/DTIC_AD1030846 online]
* Fike, Claude E. "The Influence of the Creel Committee and the American Red Cross on Russian-American Relations, 1917–1919." ''Journal of Modern History'' 31#2 (1959): 93–109. [http://www.jstor.org/stable/1875598 online].
* Irwin, Julia. ''Making the World Safe: The American Red Cross and a Nation's Humanitarian Awakening.'' New York: Oxford University Press, 2013.
* Irwin, Julia. "The American Red Cross in Great War-Era Europe, 1914–1922." ''The Tocqueville Review'' 38.2 (2017): 117–131.
* Irwin, Julia F. "Teaching 'Americanism with a World Perspective': The Junior Red Cross in the U.S. Schools from 1917 to the 1920s." ''History of Education Quarterly;; 53#3 (2013), pp. 255–279. [https://www.jstor.org/stable/42704875 online]
* Irwin, Julia F. "Nation Building and Rebuilding: The American Red Cross in Italy during the Great War." ''Journal of the Gilded Age and Progressive Era'' 8#3 2009, pp.&nbsp;407–439 [https://www.jstor.org/stable/40542839 online]
* Jones, Marian Moser. ''The American Red Cross From Clara Barton to the New Deal.'' (Johns Hopkins University Press; 2013).
* Jones, Marian Moser. "The American Red Cross and Local Response to the 1918 Influenza Pandemic: A Four-City Case Study." ''Public Health Reports'' vol. 125, 2010, pp.&nbsp;92–104. [https://www.jstor.org/stable/41435303 online]
* Kind-Kovács, Friederike. "The Great War, the child's body and the American Red Cross." ''European Review of History: Revue européenne d'histoire'' 23.1–2 (2016): 33–62, child-relief activities in Hungary 1919. https://doi.org/10.1080/13507486.2015.1121971
* Rodogno, Davide. "The American Red Cross and the International Committee of the Red Cross: Humanitarian Politics and Policies in Asia Minor and Greece (1922–1923)." ''First World War Studies'' 5#1 (2014): 83–99
* Rozario, Kevin. "'Delicious horrors': Mass culture, the Red Cross, and the appeal of modern american humanitarianism." ''American Quarterly'' (2003) 55#3. 417–455. [https://muse.jhu.edu/article/46647 online]
* Schmidt, Cheryl K. "In Our Community: American Red Cross Nursing: Essential to Disaster Relief." ''American Journal of Nursing'' 104#8 (2004): 35–38. [https://www.jstor.org/stable/29746095 online].
* Whelden, Lynne Merritt. ''How to Play During a War: A Free Spirit's Life in Letters'' (Canton, PA: Lynne Whelden Productions; 2007).

== External links ==
{{Wikisource portal}}
{{Commons category|American Red Cross}}
* {{official website}}
* [https://photos.irp.us/Public-Safety/Red-Cross/Atlanta American Red Cross Disaster Relief Photos]
* [https://www.nps.gov/articles/clara-barton-s-house-home-of-the-american-red-cross-teaching-with-historic-places.htm ''Clara Barton's House: Home of the American Red Cross,'' a National Park Service Teaching with Historic Places (TwHP) lesson plan]
* [https://statenisland.pastperfectonline.com/webobject/09E6345C-78F5-469C-ACDE-098342963330 American Red Cross Motor Service uniform, the 1940s, in the Staten Island Historical Society Online Collections Database]
* [https://statenisland.pastperfectonline.com/webobject/B79B63A3-2EFC-4F41-B0C0-185072324320 American Red Cross Nurse's Aide uniform, the 1940s, in the Staten Island Historical Society Online Collections Database]
* [https://dmr.bsu.edu/digital/collection/WWIPosters/search/searchterm/Red%20Cross/field/all/mode/all/conn/and/cosuppress/ Red Cross posters from World War I] from the [https://dmr.bsu.edu/digital/collection/WWIPosters Elisabeth Ball Collection]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20160210025313/https://arcweb.archives.gov/arc/action/ExternalIdSearch?id=783 Records of the American National Red Cross, 1881–2008] at the National Archives and Records Administration
* {{ProPublicaNonprofitExplorer|530196605}}
* {{Gutenberg author | id=35748| name=American National Red Cross}}
* {{Internet Archive author |sname=American Red Cross}}

{{Red Cross Red Crescent Movement}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:American Red Cross| ]]
[[Category:1881 establishments in Washington, D.C.]]
[[Category:Organizations established in 1881]]
[[Category:Congressional Gold Medal recipients|Red Cross]]
[[Category:Volunteer organizations in the United States]]

Latest revision as of 22:01, 9 December 2024

American Red Cross
FormationMay 21, 1881; 143 years ago (1881-05-21)
FounderClara Barton
TypeCharitable organization
53-0196605
Legal statusInstrumentality of the United States and a body corporate and politic[1][2] 501(c)(3) organization
PurposeHumanitarian aid
HeadquartersAmerican Red Cross National Headquarters
Location
Region served
United States
Key people
Main organ
Board of Governors
RevenueUS$3.4 billion (2022)[4]
Websitewww.redcross.org

The American National Red Cross[5] is a nonprofit humanitarian organization that provides emergency assistance, disaster relief, and disaster preparedness education in the United States. Clara Barton founded the organization in 1881 after initially learning of the Red Cross from the country of Switzerland. Barton resigned in 1904 with Mabel Thorp Boardman taking control soon after. It is the designated US affiliate of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and the United States movement to the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.

The organization is involved with and responsible for the aftercare of notable disasters, such as the sinking of the RMS Titanic in 1912, World War I, the Spanish flu pandemic of 1918, World War II, Hurricane Katrina, and the Maui wildfires of 2023.

The American Red Cross offers services and development programs such as blood donations, plasma and tissue services, and additional research.[6] It has also had a long-standing relationship with the US military, providing emergency and non-emergency services, including family communications and recreation.

History and organization

[edit]
American Red Cross workplace, Memphis TN, c. 1898
     
American Red Cross WWI poster
     
U.S. stamp commemorating Red Cross 50th anniversary, issue of 1931

Founders

[edit]

Clara Barton established the American Red Cross in Dansville, New York, on May 21, 1881, and was also the organization's first president. She organized a meeting on May 12 of that year at the house of Senator Omar D. Conger (R, MI).[7] Fifteen people were present at the meeting, Conger and Representative William Lawrence (R, OH) (who became the first vice president) to discuss the start of the American Red Cross.[8][9] The first local chapter was established in 1881 at the English Evangelical Lutheran Church of Dansville.[10][11][12]

Jane Delano (1862–1919) founded the American Red Cross Nursing Service on January 20, 1910.[13]

Clara Barton

[edit]

Barton founded the American chapter after learning of the Red Cross in Geneva, Switzerland. In 1869, she went to Europe and became involved in the work of the International Red Cross during the Franco-Prussian War. She was determined to bring the organization to America.[14][15]

Clara Barton, founder of the American Red Cross

Barton became President of the American branch of the society, known as the American National Red Cross in May 1881 in Washington. The first chapters opened in upstate New York, where she had connections.[16][15] John D. Rockefeller and four others donated money to help create a national headquarters near the White House.[17] The abolitionist Frederick Douglass, a friend of Barton's, offered advice and support as she sought to establish the American chapter of Red Cross. As Register of Deeds for the District of Columbia, Douglass also signed the American Red Cross's original Articles of Incorporation.[citation needed]

American Red Cross Administrative Headquarters in Washington, D.C.

The next major disaster was the Johnstown Flood on May 31, 1889. Over 2,209 people died, and thousands more were injured in or near Johnstown, Pennsylvania, in one of the worst disasters in U.S. history.[18]

ARC Clipper 1970.pdf
ARC Clipper Circa 1970

Progressive reform

[edit]

Many within the organization became frustrated with Barton's leadership style, and Barton resigned from the organization in 1904.[19]

Professional social work experts took control and made the group a model of Progressive Era scientific reform.[20] New leader Mabel Thorp Boardman consulted with senior government officials, military officers, social workers, and financiers. William Howard Taft was especially influential. They imposed an ethos of "managerialism", transforming the agency from Barton's cult of personality to an "organizational humanitarianism" ready for expansion.[21]

Among the notable disasters of the Progressive Era that featured American Red Cross involvement was the sinking of the RMS Titanic in 1912. The New York City chapter joined with the Charity Organization Society to provide funds to survivors and the dependents of those who perished.[22]

During World War Two, the American Red Cross ran the Booker T Washington Service Club in Sydney, Australia.

Leadership

[edit]

Recent presidents and CEO s include Gail J. McGovern, Cliff Holtz, Elizabeth Dole, Bernadine Healy, Mary S. Elcano, Mark W. Everson and John F. McGuire.[23] In 2007, U.S. legislation clarified the role for the Board of Governors and that of the senior management in the wake of difficulties following Hurricane Katrina.[24] Members of the board of governors other than the chairman are elected at the annual meeting of chapter delegates. The board appoints the chief executive officer.[25] The president and CEOs' overall goal is to execute the Red Cross' strategies and missions to lead and oversee the business activities that the Red Cross partakes in or organizes.

Ranking

[edit]
ARC Wilmington, Delaware

As of April 2023, the American Red Cross scores four out of four stars at Charity Navigator[26] and A− at CharityWatch.[27]

In 1996, the Chronicle of Philanthropy, an industry magazine, released the results of the largest study of charitable and nonprofit organization popularity and credibility. The study showed that ARC was ranked as the third "most popular charity/non-profit in America" of over 100 charities researched, with 48% of Americans over age 12 choosing "Love" or "Like A lot" to describe it.[28]

Notable members

[edit]
  • Charles R. Drew, First medical director for the Red Cross National Blood Collection Program in 1941.[38]
  • Blood services

    [edit]

    Blood donation

    [edit]

    ARC supplies roughly 45% of the donated blood in the United States, which it sells to hospitals and regional suppliers.[39] Community-based blood centers supply nearly 50% and approximately 5% is collected directly by hospitals.[40] In December 2004, ARC completed its largest blood processing facility in the United States in Pomona, California, on the campus grounds of California State Polytechnic University, Pomona.[citation needed]

    Tissue services

    [edit]

    For more than 50 years, ARC provided allograft tissue for transplant through sales in its Tissue Services Program. It cared for thousands of donor families who donated tissue and sold the tissue to more than 1 million transplant recipients. At the end of January 2005, ARC ended its Tissue Services program to focus on its primary missions of Disaster Relief and Blood Services.[citation needed]

    Plasma services

    [edit]

    A leader in the plasma industry, ARC provides more than one quarter of the USA's plasma products. Red Cross Plasma Services are plasma products that have a reputation of being reliable, cost-effective and as safe as possible.[citation needed]

    In February 1999, ARC completed its "Transformation", a $287 million program that re engineered Red Cross Blood Services' processing, testing, and distribution system and established a new management structure.[citation needed]

    As of 2011, ARC was no longer in the Plasma Services industry. It supplies Baxter BioSciences with items for manufacturing plasma products.[41]

    Nucleic acid testing

    [edit]

    On March 1, 1999, ARC became the first U.S. blood bank to implement a nucleic acid testing (NAT) study. This process is different from traditional testing because it looks for the genetic material of HIV and hepatitis C (HCV), rather than the body's response to the disease.[citation needed]

    The NAT tests for HIV and HCV has been licensed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). These tests detect the genetic material of a transfusion-transmitted virus like HIV without waiting for the body to form antibodies, potentially offering an important time advantage over current techniques.[citation needed]

    Leukoreduction

    [edit]
    Letter of American Red Cross
    Houston Astrodome, a major ARC location in Texas

    Leukocytes (white blood cells) help fight off foreign substances such as bacteria, viruses, and abnormal cells. In fact, these foreign leukocytes in transfused red blood cells and platelets are often not well tolerated and have been associated with some types of transfusion complications. Leukocytes in stored blood products can have a variety of biological effects, including depression of immune function, which can result in organ failure and death.[42] Because whole blood is rarely used for transfusion and not kept in routine inventory, leukoreduced red blood supplies are critical. After collection, the whole blood is separated into red cells and plasma by centrifugal. A preservative solution is mixed with the red cells and the component is filtered with a leukoreduction filter. The shelf life of this product is 42 days.[citation needed]

    ARC is moving toward system-wide universal prestorage leukocyte reduction to improve patient care. From 1976 to 1985, the FDA received reports of 355 fatalities associated with transfusion, 99 of which were excluded from further review because they were unrelated to transfusion or involved hepatitis or HIV/AIDS.[43] While the FDA has not yet made leukoreduction a requirement, ARC took a leading role in implementing this procedure with a goal of leukoreducing all blood products. More than 70% of ARC red blood cell components undergo prestorage leukoreduction, a filtering process performed soon after blood is donated.[citation needed]

    Research

    [edit]

    ARC operates the Jerome H. Holland blood laboratory in Rockville, Maryland.[44][45]

    Cellular therapies

    [edit]
    American Red Cross hospital train in Dallas, 1919

    ARC offers various cellular therapies; these treatments involve collecting and treating blood cells from a patient or other blood donor. The treated cells are introduced into a patient to help revive normal cell function, replace cells that are lost as a result of disease, accidents or aging, or to prevent illnesses from appearing. The ARC has implemented technology from Accellix, a biotechnology company specializing in automated cell phenotyping, in order to help meet the increasing demand and need for various cell and gene therapies. The ARC continues to work on further expanding their help and participation in cellular therapies and are always looking for donors who are willing and able to contribute to their mission.[46]

    Training services

    [edit]

    Training Services is one of the five divisions of the American Red Cross, responsible for providing health and safety training to the general public as well as the workforce. In fiscal year 2017 the American Red Cross trained 2.28 million people how to save lives through their First Aid, CPR or AED courses, water safety and care giving programs. There are a wide variety of course offerings available:[47]

    • Administering Emergency Oxygen
    • Advanced Life Support
    • Anaphylaxis and Epinephrine Auto-Injector
    • Asthma Inhaler Training
    • Babysitter's Training
    • Basic Life Support
    • Bloodborne Pathogens Training
    • California Child Care
    • CPR/AED for Professional Rescuers
    • Emergency Medical Response
    • First Aid/CPR/AED (English and Spanish)
    • Hands-Only CPR
    • Learn to Swim
    • Lifeguard Management
    • Lifeguarding
    • Longfellow's WHALE Tales
    • Nurse Assistant Training
    • Pediatric Advanced Life Support
    • Responding to Emergencies
    • Safety Training for Swim Coaches
    • Title 22 (California First Aid for Public Safety Personnel)
    • Water Safety
    • Wilderness and Remote First Aid

    In addition to basic level certifications in the above courses, the American Red Cross also offers Instructor level courses and Instructor Trainer (IT) level courses. Instructor level courses are designed to teach participants how to become instructors for American Red Cross courses, whereas Instructor Trainer courses (also known as Instructor Trainer Academies) are designed to certify current instructors to become Instructor Trainers, or people who can teach Instructor level courses.[citation needed]

    Training Services has an online store where you can purchase supplies including First Aid Kits, CPR key chains, flashlights, and emergency radios.[48]

    2018 mannequin change

    [edit]

    In early 2018 all courses offered by the American Red Cross switched to Brayden/BigRed Manikins. The investment cost $1.8 million and increased participants' understanding of the purpose of compressions during CPR. These Manikins have LED lights that mimic blood flow through the body and to the brain, giving students instant visual feedback on their technique.

    Course offerings

    [edit]

    There are three entities that can run American Red Cross courses; The American Red Cross, Authorized Providers, and Licensed Training Providers.[49] The American Red Cross runs many of its own courses that can be conducted on land such as First Aid/CPR/AED and Basic Life Support for Healthcare Providers. There are a number of courses that require aquatic facilities to run, such as Lifeguarding and Water Safety Instructor. These courses are generally left to Authorized Providers (colleges, government agencies, fire departments, community centers) and to Licensed Training Providers (LLC. or Inc.).[citation needed]

    Scientific Advisory Council

    [edit]

    The Scientific Advisory Council is a panel including over 50 nationally recognized medical, scientific, aquatics, and academic experts from across the United States.[50]

    Disaster services

    [edit]
    American Red Cross providing assistance during the 1994 Northridge earthquake
    An American Red Cross vehicle distributing food to Grand Forks, North Dakota victims of the 1997 Red River flood
    Satellite communications after Tropical Storm Debby in Lake City, Florida, 2012

    Each year, ARC responds to more than 60,000 disasters, including house or apartment fires (making up the majority), hurricanes, floods, earthquakes, tornadoes, hazardous materials spills, transportation accidents, explosions and other natural and man-made disasters.[citation needed]

    Although ARC is not a government agency, its authority to provide disaster relief was formalized when, in 1905, it was granted a congressional charter to "carry on a system of national and international relief in time of peace and apply the same in mitigating the sufferings caused by pestilence, famine, fire, floods, and other great national calamities, and to devise and carry on measures for preventing the same." The charter is not only a grant of power but also an imposition of duties and obligations to the nation, to disaster victims and to the people who support its work with their donations.[citation needed]

    Disaster relief focuses on emergency disaster-caused needs. When a disaster threatens or strikes, ARC provides shelter, food and health and mental health services (Psychological First Aid) to address basic human needs. The core of American Red Cross disaster relief is assistance to individuals and families to enable them to resume their normal daily activities. The organization provides translation and interpretation when necessary, and maintains a database of multilingual volunteers.[51]

    At the local level, ARC chapters operate volunteer-staffed Disaster Action Teams.[citation needed]

    ARC feeds emergency workers of other agencies, handles inquiries from concerned family members outside the disaster area, provides blood and blood products to disaster victims and helps those affected by a disaster to access other resources. It is a member of National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD) and works closely with other agencies such as Salvation Army and Amateur Radio Emergency Service with whom it has memorandums of understanding.[citation needed]

    ARC works to encourage preparedness by providing important literature on readiness. Many chapters also offer free classes to the general public.[52]

    A major misconception among the general public is that ARC provides medical facilities, engages in search and rescue operations or deploys ambulances. Instead, first responder roles are left to government agencies as dictated by the National Response Framework. Red Cross societies outside the U.S. may provide such functions; for example, the Cruz Roja Mexicana (Mexican Red Cross) runs a national ambulance service. Furthermore, American Red Cross Emergency Response Vehicles (ERVs) look similar to ambulances.[53] These ERVs instead are designed for bulk distribution of relief supplies, such as meals, drinks and other relief supplies. Although ARC shelters usually assign a nurse to the facility, they are not equipped to provide medical care beyond first aid.[citation needed]

    Disaster Services Workforce

    [edit]

    The Disaster Services Workforce (DSW) system enrolls volunteers from ARC chapters into a national database of responders, classified by their ability to serve in one or more activities within groups. Services include feeding and sheltering ("mass care") warehousing, damage assessment, accounting, communications, public affairs, counseling and others. Responders complete training for the specific services they want to offer, first aid and CPR.[citation needed]

    National Response Framework

    [edit]

    As a National Response Framework[54] support agency, ARC shelters, feeds and provides other types of emergency relief to victims of disasters. ARC is a co-lead with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for the mass care portion of Emergency Support Function 6. ARC and FEMA share responsibility for planning and coordinating mass care services with FEMA. ARC has responsibilities for other Emergency Support Functions, such as providing health and mental health services.[55][56]

    Disaster responses

    [edit]

    1908 Messina earthquake

    [edit]

    In 1908 an earthquake and tsunami devastated the area surround the Strait of Messina. The American public donated nearly $1 million to the American Red Cross which was sent to Italy via the State Department, alongside $800,000 in public funds.[57] The decision to use the State Department to distribute funds, rather than sending them directly to the Italian Red Cross, was indicative of the organization's shift away from the International Red Cross movement and towards US interests.[58] This was the ARC's first major response to an international civilian disaster.[57]

    In December of that year two Americans, Harry Bowdoin and Charles King Wood, were in Taormina when the earthquake occurred. Mr. Bowdoin was spending the winter in Taormina with his invalid mother and Mr. Wood was an artist who had lived in Taormina for several years. These two men entered upon the work of relief answering the call of the Red Cross.[110] Afterwards, the Italian government conferred upon the two men the honorific of "Cavaliere". Bowdoin and Wood were two of the twenty-one recipients of the American Red Cross silver medal for "specially meritorious service" for that year.

    Before 1908, the U.S. Congress had only rarely allocated funds for natural disasters; likewise, the level of funding given to Italy was also unprecedented.[59] The ARC's aid to Italy carried important diplomatic meaning for the U.S. due to the large number of Italian emigrants who left for the U.S. every year, and Italy's growing importance within Europe.[60] ARC leaders viewed relief efforts in Italy as a way to demonstrate U.S. care for the nation. Alongside this, disaster relief was seen as a tool for social reform. A fundamental goal of the ARC's assistance was to address the perceived threat of pulverization within an area that a large proportion of U.S. immigrants came from.[61]

    Role in the United States occupation of Nicaragua

    [edit]

    As a response to the Nicaraguan resentment of the United States occupation of Nicaragua, U.S. officials employed the use of humanitarian relief in attempt to improve relations. $10,000 was given to the ARC by Philander Knox to provide relief in the form of blankets, clothing, and food to captured soldiers from José Santos Zelaya's army.[62] ARC leaders believed that humanitarian relief would be more effective in fostering goodwill and creating stability than any other action. In 1912 the State and War Department became concerned with increasing reports of hunger within the country. As a result, Knox asked the ARC to supply food for non-combatants as well. American forces worked with the ARC to open railroads to distribute humanitarian supplies to Managua, Granada, Léon, and other key cities.[63]

    Although the ARC was a non-governmental agency, its humanitarian efforts lined up with American foreign policy, becoming a useful diplomatic mechanism for softening the effects of American military intervention and securing its political interests.[64]

    Role in World War One

    [edit]

    Prior to the United States entry into World War One, the American Red Cross was a neutral organization aiding both the allied and central powers.[65] However, when the United States joined the allied powers, the American Red Cross aid to the central powers ended immediately. On May 10, 1917, President Wilson created the American Red Cross War Council to aid funding initiatives and direct the activities of the organization. Throughout the war, the Council raised $400 million.[citation needed]

    The American Red Cross in the war was a quasi-state organization and a non-governmental organization, as it was not officially part of the United States Government. The American Red Cross in the war focused principally on overseas civilian aid and not domestic disaster relief. The American Red Cross spent "less than one million dollars on domestic disaster relief, in comparison to the $120 million devoted to relief overseas.[66]" The American Red Cross during the war provided food, employment, housing, and medical assistance to millions of civilians displaced by the war. During the course of the war, over one-third of the population of the United States joined the organization and in 1917 and 1918 alone around $400 million was raised.[67] Amongst its initiatives was the Pisa Village in Italy, a humanitarian housing project, begun in 1918,[citation needed] and manufacture of "500,000 dressings" to treat wounds using use of Sphagnum moss in place of cotton, based on the research of John William Hotson.[68][69]

    The power of the American Red Cross was soon recognized by the Government which began to see "the value of overseas aid as a tool of statecraft".[70] The American Red Cross was increasingly being used as an arm of the state to facilitate the realization of American foreign policy objects. Principally, the American Red Cross enhanced America's image abroad while also disseminating American practices and values throughout Europe.[70] It intervened in European health and welfare practices by introducing American methods. Moreover, after the Bolsheviks seized power in Russia, President Wilson used the American Red Cross as a diplomacy tool to aid the White forces. Wilson believed that food was the "real thing" to combat Bolshevism and ordered the American Red Cross to distribute food and material relief to Bolshevik opponents in the Russian civil war.[71] The American Red Cross, therefore, served the dual functions of assisting the realization of United States foreign policy objectives and promoting international humanitarianism.[citation needed]

    At the end of the war the League of Red Cross Societies was created. This international society of national Red Cross organizations was spearheaded by the United States and sought the "improvement of health, the prevention of disease, and the mitigation of suffering throughout the world."[72]

    Role in Spanish Flu Outbreak of 1918

    [edit]

    During the flu pandemic of 1918, American Red Cross chapters were instrumental in establishing both preventive measures and treatment plans within their local communities throughout the United States. The degree to which the Red Cross was involved with pandemic planning was largely dependent on the needs of the community and the actions of local public health authorities, but large cities and their surrounding communities were often dependent on the organization in mitigating the spread of the disease.[73]

    Active initiatives undertaken by local chapters included the sewing of masks for local distribution, the production and promotion of educational pamphlets, the establishment of localized motor corps, and providing door-to-door nursing and social services. In some cities, the motor corps functioned both in providing auxiliary ambulatory services and expanding the logistical dispersion of manpower and supplies. The contribution of nurses, goods, services, and local administrative guidance offered by the American Red Cross provided local community leaders with essential support in combating the pandemic.[73]

    Interwar European reconstruction

    [edit]
    An American Red Cross Ship in Greece c. 1920–1925

    Unlike European relief organization, which had to invest much of their time in fund-raising efforts, the American Red Cross's collaboration with Herbert Hoover's American Relief Administration had funding on a different scale and well as popular and governmental support at its disposal.[74] With its membership of over 33 million Americans in 1918 (20% of the U.S. population) and its designation as the official U.S. organization for foreign relief by the Geneva Treaty and Congressional mandate, the ARC was neither wholly private nor an official governmental organization.[75] This quasi-governmental support allowed the ARC to secure credibility and support that was unattainable for other relief organizations such as the YMCA or Knights of Columbus.[citation needed]

    The ARC's private funding allowed for more flexibility than government organizations, its leaders chose to support U.S. foreign policy in many ways but also often pursued aims that differed from that of the military or political policymakers.[76] Hundreds of ARC workers pursued permanent reform of Italian social politics, rather than emergency relief they founded nursing schools, developed child welfare projects and waged anti-tuberculosis crusades.[77] In introducing these American ideas about public health and social welfare, the ARC acted as what historian Daniel T. Rodgers had referred to as 'brokers of ideas', who facilitated transatlantic exchange on the methods and philosophies of social reform.[78] Work in the ARC allowed American citizens to contribute to transatlantic social reform discourse. ARC workers built upon and expanded the already existing Italian efforts for social reform. ARC reformers embraced a strategic cultural sensitivity as they attempted to work with Italians and help them to take control of their own social institutions. By presenting their reforms as mutual exchange rather than imposed change, ARC workers hoped Italians would willingly accept them.[79] U.S. reformers in the ARC continued to believe in the necessity of American intervention in 'reforming' Italy.[citation needed]

    Russian revolution

    [edit]

    In July 1918 the ARC established a hospital at the entrance of Vladivostok harbor, followed by eight more hospitals during that year. Vladivostok Refugee hospital was opened in early 1919 in former naval barracks and had up to 250 beds. The ARC provided drugs and medical supplies to Russian hospitals during the civil war.[80]

    Role in World War Two

    [edit]

    In the 1940s during World War II, the Red Cross enrolled 7.5 million volunteers along with 39,000 paid staff[81] and more than 104,000 nurses[82] for military service, prepared 27 million packages for prisoners of war, shipped more than 300,000 tons of supplies, and collected 13.3 million pints of blood plasma for the armed forces.[83] By the time World War II ended in September 1945, American society contributed over $784 million in support of the American Red Cross.[81]

    2005 hurricanes

    [edit]
    Volunteers assist Hurricane victims at the Houston Astrodome, following Hurricane Katrina.

    Forecasting a major disaster before the landfall of Hurricane Katrina, ARC enlisted 2,000 volunteers to be on a "stand by" deployment list.[citation needed]

    According to ARC, during and after hurricanes Katrina, Wilma and Rita, they opened 1,470 shelters and registered 3.8 million overnight stays. 300,000 American Red Cross workers (82% unpaid) provided sheltering, casework, communication and assessment services throughout these events. In addition, 346,980 comfort kits (which contain hygiene essentials such as toothpaste, soap, washcloths and toys for children) and 205,360 cleanup kits (containing brooms, mops and bleach) were distributed. The organization served 68 million snacks and meals. Disaster Health services provided 596,810 contacts, and Disaster Mental Health services 826,590 contacts. Emergency financial assistance was provided to 1.4 million families, including 4 million people. Katrina was the first natural disaster in the United States that ARC utilized their "Safe and Well" family location website.[84][85]

    Comair Flight 5191

    [edit]

    Following the crash of commuter aircraft Comair Flight 5191, the Bluegrass Area Chapter and ARC Critical Response Team (CRT) members were dispatched. This was the worst air disaster in the United States since American Airlines Flight 587. Family and Friends reception centers were established near the arrival and departure airports and in Cincinnati, site of the Comair headquarters. Local chapters in Georgia, Alabama, Kentucky and California provided health and mental health services to family and friends not present in Lexington. Volunteers also staffed the local Emergency Operations Center (EOC) in Lexington, Kentucky.[86]

    2007 tornadoes

    [edit]
    ARC is set up in a community hard hit by the tornadoes, Florida, 2007.

    Florida

    [edit]

    In response to the Central Florida Tornado of February 2007, ARC began a large scale disaster relief operation. At least seven shelters were opened. 40,000 pre-packaged meals were sent by ARC, and across the nation, almost 400 American Red Cross volunteers were deployed to assist with local relief efforts. The organization deployed more than 30 Emergency Response Vehicles for community food and supply distribution.[87][88]

    Kansas

    [edit]

    ARC immediately responded to the May 2007 Tornado Outbreak in central Kansas by setting up emergency shelters for displaced residents and started the distribution of food, water and relief supplies.[89]

    Minneapolis bridge collapse

    [edit]

    Following the collapse of the I-35W Mississippi River bridge, the Twin Cities Area Chapter responded with their Disaster Action Team to provide food, information and comfort. A family service center was set up, and mental health counselors deployed to numerous locations.[90] Donations contributed for this cause totaled US$138,368 and covered the cost of services[91] but not $65,000 in unexpected expenses.[92] Weather and the collapse placed 70% of Minnesota counties in federal primary or contiguous disaster areas during that August.[93]

    2023 Hawaii wildfires

    [edit]

    Following the Hawaii wildfires in early August 2023, the ARC began a large-scale disaster relief operation (DRO). More than 1,300 volunteers have been deployed since the fires began. In partnership with the county government, the ARC has been able to provide displaced residents with more than 257,000 overnight emergency shelter and hotel room stays on Maui and Oahu.[94]

    International services

    [edit]

    ARC, as part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and its nearly 100 million volunteers, educates and mobilizes communities to overcome life-threatening vulnerabilities. ARC International Services Department focuses on global health, disaster preparedness and response, Restoring Family Links and international humanitarian law dissemination. ARC is involved with international projects, including the Measles and Rubella Partnership, the migration and refugee crisis, and the Nepal earthquake.[95][96]

    Disaster preparedness and response

    [edit]

    ARC international disaster response and preparedness programs provide relief and development assistance to millions of people annually who suffer as a result of natural and human-made disasters. To respond quickly and effectively, ARC has pre-positioned emergency relief supplies in three warehouses managed by the International Federation in Dubai, Malaysia, and Panama that are used to respond to disasters. An Emergency Response Unit (ERU) is another method with which ARC responds to international emergencies. An ERU is made up of trained personnel and pre-packaged equipment that is crucial in responding to sudden, large-scale disasters and emergencies in remote locations. American Red Cross ERUs specialize in providing emergency relief supplies and IT and Telecommunications for American Red Cross response operations.[97]

    ARC works with the Red Cross Red Crescent network to aid countries after disasters. ARC provides relief after a request from a country in need and then uses trained disaster responders and relief supplies strategically positioned worldwide to respond immediately. ARC may also provide financial aid to disaster relief efforts using donations given to the organization. The Ebola Outbreak in West Africa, Hurricane Dorian in the Bahamas, and Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines are some of the international disasters that ARC has responded to.[98]

    Flood prevention in the Huai River valley

    [edit]

    In 1911, the ARC initiated its first international disaster-prevention project in the Huai River Valley. The ARC hired engineers to redirect the Huai River to prevent the yearly flooding that ruined crops and caused famine.[99] Key engineer within the project, C.D. Jameson, recommended a financial commitment to drainage, flood prevention, and land reclamation which he promised would result in 'the elimination of the suffering, starvation, and degeneration of several millions of people', which would substantially reduce 'unrest and lawlessness'.[100] The plan's ambition to re-engineer the Chinese landscape was representative of the increasingly global ambitions of the ARC and the new direction the organization was taking prior to World War I.[citation needed]

    Haiti

    [edit]

    On January 12, 2010, a magnitude 7.0 Mw earthquake struck the Haitian coast 10 miles from the capital of Port-au-Prince, causing massive damage, more than 200,000 deaths and displacing nearly 2 million people.

    As of March 2011, ARC announced it had allocated $314 million for Haiti earthquake relief and recovery. ARC funded recovery projects to provide transitional homes, health services, disaster preparedness, water and sanitation improvements and livelihoods development. It provided funds for school fees for affected families. As of June 2011, ARC had raised approximately $484 million for Haiti relief and recovery efforts.[101]

    A series of reports by NPR and ProPublica found that much of the money Americans donated never made it to help people in Haiti and promises to rebuild neighborhoods were never met.[102][103]

    Global health

    [edit]

    ARC International Services global health initiatives focus on preventing and combating infectious diseases such as HIV/AIDS and measles on a large scale. Through cost-effective, community-based health interventions, ARC targets people in need and focuses on accessibility and equity of care, community participation, and integration with other community development initiatives, such as water and sanitation projects and food and nutrition programs.[citation needed]

    An example of ARC International Services health programming is the Measles Initiative, launched in 2001, as a partnership committed to reducing measles deaths globally. The initiative provides technical and financial support to governments and communities on vaccination campaigns and disease surveillance worldwide. Leading these efforts are ARC, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the United Nations Foundation, UNICEF and the World Health Organization. The Measles Initiative has supported vaccination campaigns in more than 60 countries, mostly in Africa and Asia. Since 2001, the initiative has helped vaccinate one billion children in more than 60 developing countries.[104] The initiative supported the distribution of more than 37 million insecticide-treated mosquito nets for malaria prevention, 81 million doses of de-worming medicine, 95 million doses of polio vaccine, and 186 million doses of vitamin A.[citation needed]

    As of January 1, 2023, the initiative became known as the Measles & Rubella Partnership. The Measles Initiative had been previously renamed in 2012, when the founding members of the organization decided on the inclusion of rubella elimination to the program, changing the name to the Measles and Rubella Initiative. The change to the Measles & Rubella Partnership came after the adoption of the Measles and Rubella Strategic Framework 2030. With the change, new core partners Gavi and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation have been added.[105]

    In December 2006, ARC became a founding partner of the Malaria No More campaign. The campaign was formed by leading non-governmental organizations to inspire individuals, institutions, and organizations in the private sector to support a comprehensive approach to end malaria, a devastating but preventable disease. ARC supported local Red Cross and Red Crescent volunteers in Africa who educated families and communities about malaria prevention and treatment, such as the proper and consistent use of insecticide-treated bed nets. ARC provided technical assistance and capacity-building support to its partners in difficult-to-reach communities.[citation needed]

    International tracing requests

    [edit]

    ARC handles international tracing requests and searches for families who have been separated. This service attempts to re-establish contact between separated family members. Restoring Family Links services provide the exchange of hand-written Red Cross Messages between individuals and their relatives who may be refugees or prisoners of war. At any given time, ARC Restoring Family Links program is handling the aftermath of 20–30 wars and conflicts. The worldwide structure of Red Cross and Red Crescent National Societies and the International Committee of the Red Cross make this service possible. When new information from former Soviet Union archives became available in the 1990s, a special unit was created to handle World War II and Holocaust tracing services.[citation needed]

    International humanitarian law

    [edit]

    ARC International Services educates the American public about the guiding principles of international humanitarian law (IHL) for conduct in warfare as set forth by the Geneva Conventions of 1949. In doing so, ARC International Services provides support to ARC chapters in their IHL dissemination efforts, offering courses and providing instructor training.[citation needed]

    Service to the Armed Forces

    [edit]
    A World War II-era poster encouraged American women to volunteer for the Red Cross as part of the war effort.

    ARC provides emergency and non-emergency services to the United States military. The most notable service is emergency family communications, where families can contact the Red Cross to send important family messages (such as a death in the family, or new birth). ARC can also act as a verifying agency.[106] The agency operates call centers to provide these services.[107] ARC works closely with other military societies, such as the Department of Veterans Affairs, to provide other services to service members and their families. ARC is not involved with prisoners of war; these are monitored by the International Committee of the Red Cross, the international body.[citation needed]

    Carney Airfield, Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands Red Cross girl, August 1944

    One criticism of American Red Cross services to the military stems from stories about ARC charging troops during the Second World War and Korean War token fees for "comfort items" such as toothpaste, coffee, donuts, and cigarettes and for off-base food and lodging. The fee suggestion had been made in a letter dated March 1942 from the Secretary of War Henry L. Stimson to Norman H. Davis, the chairman of ARC. The suggestion was that Allied soldiers were being charged money so Americans should be charged too so as to "ensure an equitable distribution among all service personnel of American Red Cross resources".[108] The American Red Cross adopted the Secretary's suggestion as policy.[109]

    During World War II, ARC operated the American Red Cross Clubmobile Service to provide servicemen with food, entertainment and "a connection home." In a June 18, 1945, address to Congress, General Dwight D. Eisenhower said of the American Red Cross service in World War II, "The Red Cross, with its clubs for recreation, its coffee and doughnuts in the forward areas, its readiness to meet the needs of the well and to help minister to the wounded has often seemed the friendly hand of this nation, reaching across the sea to sustain its fighting men."[110] An account of one World War II American Red Cross Girl is recorded in Destination Unknown by Kathleen Cox; her mother, LeOna Cox, was recruited to American Red Cross Service by a fellow teacher at Allegheny College.[111] Another account of an American Red Cross World War II worker is related in letters by Evelyn Merritt Welden, compiled in the book How to Play During a War: A Free Spirit's Life in Letters, by her son, Lynne Whelden.[112]

    Great Lakes Naval Hospital 1966, Jennie and Terrie Frankel perform for wounded soldiers.

    During the Vietnam War 627 American women served in the ARC Supplemental Recreation Overseas Program. At the invitation of the United States Army the "Donut Dollies" provided morale-boosting games to soldiers. Due to the mobility of the UH-1 Iroquois, Vietnam Donut Dollies were able to visit troops in forwarding operating positions. The 2008 documentary film A Touch of Home: The Vietnam War's Red Cross Girls tells the story of these women. ARC also provided services to entertain wounded soldiers at the Great Lakes Naval Hospital during the Vietnam War.[citation needed]

    In 2011, the Service to the Armed Forces (SAF) unit was reorganized and began receiving $24 million per year from Congress for operating expenses. Along with being downsized there was a consolidation into four regional locations (San Diego, California, Ft. Sill, Oklahoma, Louisville, Kentucky, and Springfield, Massachusetts). In 2012 the first stories began breaking about long call times and the poor quality of response from call takers,[113][114] along with questions about whether money was being used appropriately.[115] In 2015, the San Diego and Springfield locations were closed because an online option for families was implemented.[116]

    Controversies

    [edit]

    Johnson & Johnson suit over Red Cross image

    [edit]
    The red cross flag. The American Red Cross flag logo.

    On August 7, 2007,[117] Johnson & Johnson (J&J) filed suit against ARC over its sub licensing of the International Red Cross image for the production of first aid kits and similar products, which it alleged competed with the company's products. The suit also asked for the destruction of all non-Johnson & Johnson Red Cross Emblem bearing products and demanded that ARC pay punitive damages and J&J's legal fees.

    The American Red Cross' position was that it had licensed its name to first aid kit makers in an effort to encourage readiness for disasters and that license revenues supported humanitarian work.[118] J&J claimed that the American Red Cross's commercial ventures were outside the scope of historically well-agreed usage and were in direct violation of federal statutes.[119]

    On May 14, 2008, a federal judge ruled against J&J.[120] In June 2008, the two organizations announced a settlement had been reached allowing both parties to use the symbol.[121]

    [edit]

    The FDA took court action against ARC in response to deficiencies in their procedures for ensuring blood supply safety. The resulting consent decree outlines violations of federal law that ARC engaged in before 1993.[122] ARC paid millions of dollars in fines.[citation needed]

    ARC Biomedical Services instituted a standardized computer system to maintain the blood donor database; five National Testing Laboratories (NTLs) that test some six million units of blood annually;[123] the Charles Drew Biomedical Institute, which provides training and other educational resources to Red Cross Blood Services' personnel; a Quality Assurance/Regulatory Affairs Department, which helps to ensure regulatory compliance; and, a centrally managed blood inventory system.[citation needed]

    The consent decree was amended in 2003 with penalties for specific violations.[citation needed]

    The FDA could impose penalties after April, 2003 up to the following maximum amounts:[citation needed]

    • $10,000 per event (and $10,000 per day) for any violation of an ARC standard operating procedure (SOP), the law, or consent decree requirement and timeline
    • $50,000 for the preventable release of each unit of blood for which the FDA finds a reasonable probability of serious adverse health consequences
      • $5,000 for the release of each unit that may cause temporary problems, up to a maximum of $500,000 per event
    • $50,000 for the improper re-release of each unsuitable blood unit that was returned to ARC inventory
    • $10,000 for each donor inappropriately omitted from the National Donor Deferral Registry, a list of all unsuitable donors

    The FDA continued to apply pressure and fines to ARC in order to enforce compliance with regulations, including a $1.7 million fine in June 2008.[124]

    ARC worked closely with the FDA to develop a more robust system. The systems resulted in a five-year period of sustained compliance that led to the release from the Consent Decree as of December 4, 2015.[125]

    Blood donation controversy

    [edit]

    ARC faced criticism from lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ+) advocacy organizations for prohibiting men who have sex with men (MSM) from donating blood. This policy was an FDA requirement for all blood collection companies and organizations in the United States. Specifically, the FDA instructs blood collection organizations to "defer for 12 months from the most recent sexual contact, a man who has had sex with another man during the past 12 months".[126] Consequently, ARC was legally unable to collect blood from such men. In 2006, along with the AABB and America's Blood Centers, ARC petitioned the FDA to remove the requirement from blood donations, citing better screening technologies.[127][128] In August 2020, the American Red Cross reported on its website that its deferral of MSM from donating blood for 3 months after any sexual contact with another man is aligned with the newly updated guidance issued by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.[129] Then in May 2023, the FDA approved a policy to allow "monogamous gay and bi men (MSM) to finally donate blood immediately" - however would take some time to fully implement across the whole United States of America. An automatic 3-month deferred period still continually applies to non-monogamous individuals, regardless of sexual orientation, who have anal sex.[130]

    Hurricane Katrina controversy

    [edit]

    In March, 2006, investigations of allegations of fraud and theft by volunteers and contractors within ARC Katrina operations were launched by the Louisiana Attorney-General and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).[131] In response, ARC increased its internal and external education of the organization's fraud and a waste hotline for confidential reporting to a third-party agency.[citation needed] The organization also elected to implement a background check policy for all volunteers and staff, starting in 2006.[132]

    In April 2006, an unnamed former ARC official leaked reports made by the International Committee of the Red Cross and the British Red Cross. Such reports are typical of a large-scale disaster relief operation involving other national Red Cross societies to solicit their input, but are usually confidential and not released to the general public. These particular reports were particularly critical of ARC operations in Katrina-affected regions, although the British Red Cross report strongly praised ARC volunteers for their efforts.[citation needed]

    Question of spending in Haitian earthquake relief

    [edit]

    After the 2010 Haiti earthquake, the Red Cross raised $490 million in relief donations.[133] The charts put to the press claim that a substantial amount was spent in the years following, but first-person accounts share another story.[134] As of 2015, a total of six homes were built.[135]

    Storms controversy (Hurricane Sandy, Isaac, other major storms)

    [edit]

    In October 2014, independent public interest news broadcasters NPR and ProPublica published investigative reports on the Red Cross's handling of US East Coast Hurricanes Sandy and Isaac, citing internal Red Cross documents and interviews with former Red Cross and government officials. It criticized the organization's response in failing to meet the immediate needs of victims. It also described "an organization so consumed with public relations that it hindered the charity's ability to provide disaster services."[136][137][138]

    See also

    [edit]

    References

    [edit]
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    2. ^ "Our Federal Charter". American Red Cross. Archived from the original on February 7, 2022. Retrieved February 28, 2022.
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    Further reading

    [edit]
    • Bane, Suda Lorena, and Ralph Haswell Lutz, eds. Organization of American Relief in Europe, 1918–1919 (Stanford University Press, 1943).
    • Davison, Henry P. The American Red Cross in the Great War (The Macmillan Company, 1919).
    • Dulles, Foster Rhea. The American Red Cross: A History. (New York: Harper and Brothers, 1950).
    • Egan, Timothy B. and Thanousone Pravongviengkham. "American Red Cross: A History and Analysis" (Defense Technical Information Center, 2016) online
    • Fike, Claude E. "The Influence of the Creel Committee and the American Red Cross on Russian-American Relations, 1917–1919." Journal of Modern History 31#2 (1959): 93–109. online.
    • Irwin, Julia. Making the World Safe: The American Red Cross and a Nation's Humanitarian Awakening. New York: Oxford University Press, 2013.
    • Irwin, Julia. "The American Red Cross in Great War-Era Europe, 1914–1922." The Tocqueville Review 38.2 (2017): 117–131.
    • Irwin, Julia F. "Teaching 'Americanism with a World Perspective': The Junior Red Cross in the U.S. Schools from 1917 to the 1920s." History of Education Quarterly;; 53#3 (2013), pp. 255–279. online
    • Irwin, Julia F. "Nation Building and Rebuilding: The American Red Cross in Italy during the Great War." Journal of the Gilded Age and Progressive Era 8#3 2009, pp. 407–439 online
    • Jones, Marian Moser. The American Red Cross From Clara Barton to the New Deal. (Johns Hopkins University Press; 2013).
    • Jones, Marian Moser. "The American Red Cross and Local Response to the 1918 Influenza Pandemic: A Four-City Case Study." Public Health Reports vol. 125, 2010, pp. 92–104. online
    • Kind-Kovács, Friederike. "The Great War, the child's body and the American Red Cross." European Review of History: Revue européenne d'histoire 23.1–2 (2016): 33–62, child-relief activities in Hungary 1919. https://doi.org/10.1080/13507486.2015.1121971
    • Rodogno, Davide. "The American Red Cross and the International Committee of the Red Cross: Humanitarian Politics and Policies in Asia Minor and Greece (1922–1923)." First World War Studies 5#1 (2014): 83–99
    • Rozario, Kevin. "'Delicious horrors': Mass culture, the Red Cross, and the appeal of modern american humanitarianism." American Quarterly (2003) 55#3. 417–455. online
    • Schmidt, Cheryl K. "In Our Community: American Red Cross Nursing: Essential to Disaster Relief." American Journal of Nursing 104#8 (2004): 35–38. online.
    • Whelden, Lynne Merritt. How to Play During a War: A Free Spirit's Life in Letters (Canton, PA: Lynne Whelden Productions; 2007).
    [edit]