Services
Over the years, the Red Cross has continued to expand its services to the American public. In addition to domestic disaster relief, the American Red Cross offers 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.
The Red Cross provides a unique, community based network focused on the following five major areas of service.
Helping Disaster Victims
People affected by disaster need to know that they have a place to stay, food to eat and emotional support as they take the first steps to recovery. Each year, the American Red Cross responds to more than 70,000 disasters nationwide. While the vast majority of these disasters are single-family and apartment home fires, the American Red Cross stands ready to support all affected in their immediate emergency needs. In addition to those individuals affected by a disaster, the American Red Cross provides immediate support to first responders. Through our Red Cross chapter network, we are able to participate in federal, state and local government agency disaster planning exercises and response efforts. We work closely with FEMA as co-leaders of the mass care portion of Emergency Support Function #6 of the National Response Framework. The Red Cross also partners with community organizations and corporate supporters to provide emergency shelter, food and health and mental health services as well as resources and referrals to aid in recovery.
Connecting the Armed Forces with Their Families
Long separations caused by military service create special needs for military families. The Red Cross provides support to active-duty military members, National Guard and Reserve members, veterans and their families. We also provide emergency communication services, support for the sick and wounded at military and veterans hospitals and assistance in obtaining emergency financial support. And the Red Cross helps thousands of U.S. service members stay connected to their families when separated by military duty.
Teaching Lifesaving Skills
American Red Cross training and educational programs help to save lives and empower people to respond to disasters and other life-threatening emergencies. The American Red Cross helps ensure that individuals, families and organizations are prepared for disasters and other life-threatening emergencies through developing and implementing lifesaving training and education programs and materials. More than 15 million people each year gain lifesaving skills and preparedness information - including first aid, CPR and the use of defibrillators - through their local Red Cross chapter. As a result, our communities are safer because of Red Cross training.
Collecting, Testing and Supplying Blood across Our Nation
For more than 50 years, the American Red Cross has been committed to ensuring the availability of the safest possible blood and blood products to help meet America's blood needs. Every two seconds, someone in the United States needs a blood transfusion. Thanks to the generosity of its almost 4 million blood donors, the American Red Cross is the largest single blood supplier in the United States.