American Red Cross facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
American Red Cross

American Red Cross National Headquarters in Washington, D.C.
Formation	May 21, 1881; 144 years ago (1881-05-21)
Founder	Clara Barton
Type	Charitable organization
Legal status	Instrumentality of the United States and a body corporate and politic 501(c)(3) organization
Purpose	Humanitarian aid
Headquarters	American Red Cross National Headquarters
Location	Washington, D.C., United States
Region served	United States
President	Gail J. McGovern
Main organ	Board of Governors
Revenue	US$2.83 billion (2021)

The American National Red Cross is a non-profit organization that helps people in emergencies. It provides assistance during disasters and teaches people how to be ready for them. It is the official U.S. part of the worldwide International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.

The Red Cross offers many helpful services and programs.

About the American Red Cross

The American Red Cross is a well-known organization that helps people in need. It focuses on humanitarian aid, which means helping people and reducing suffering.

American Red Cross workplace in Memphis TN, around 1898

American Red Cross WWI poster from 1917

U.S. stamp celebrating the Red Cross's 50th anniversary, issued in 1931

Who Started the Red Cross?

The American Red Cross was started by Clara Barton in Dansville, New York, on May 21, 1881. She was also its first president. She held a meeting with 15 people to discuss starting the organization. The first local chapter began in Dansville in 1881.

Jane Delano (1862–1919) created the American Red Cross Nursing Service on January 20, 1910.

Clara Barton's Vision

Clara Barton, who founded the American Red Cross

Clara Barton founded the American Red Cross after learning about the Red Cross in Switzerland. She saw their work during the Franco-Prussian War in Europe. She was determined to bring this important organization to America.

Barton became the first president of the American branch in May 1881. Early chapters opened in New York, where she had connections. John D. Rockefeller and others donated money to help build a national headquarters. Frederick Douglass, a friend of Barton's, also supported her efforts.

The Red Cross helped after the terrible Johnstown Flood in 1889. Over 2,200 people died in this disaster in Johnstown, Pennsylvania.

Growing and Changing

Over time, the organization grew and became more structured. Experts helped make it a model of scientific reform. New leaders worked with government officials and social workers. They helped the Red Cross become a strong, organized group ready to expand its help.

One famous disaster where the American Red Cross helped was the sinking of the RMS Titanic in 1912. The New York City chapter provided money to survivors and families of those who were lost.

Red Cross Leadership

The American Red Cross is led by a Board of Governors and a Chief Executive Officer. Gail J. McGovern is a recent president and CEO. The board members are chosen by chapter delegates.

How the Red Cross is Rated

ARC building in Wilmington, Delaware

As of April 2023, the American Red Cross gets high ratings from charity evaluators. For example, it has four out of four stars from Charity Navigator.

In 1996, a study found that the American Red Cross was the third "most popular charity/non-profit in America." Many Americans felt positively about its work.

Important People in the Red Cross

Blood Services

The American Red Cross plays a huge role in providing blood for hospitals.

Donating Blood

The Red Cross provides about 45% of all donated blood in the United States. This blood is then used by hospitals and other suppliers. In 2004, the Red Cross opened its largest blood processing center in Pomona, California.

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  American Red Cross (Oklahoma City)

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  Children in the American Red Cross

Advanced Blood Testing

On March 1, 1999, the Red Cross was the first U.S. blood bank to use nucleic acid testing (NAT). This test looks for the genetic material of viruses like HIV and hepatitis C. This helps detect diseases earlier than older methods.

Improving Blood Safety

Letter from the American Red Cross showing where a donation was sent

The Houston Astrodome, a major Red Cross location in Texas

The Red Cross also works to remove Leukocytes (white blood cells) from donated blood. These cells can sometimes cause problems for patients receiving transfusions. This process, called leukoreduction, makes blood transfusions safer. The Red Cross aims to use this process for all blood products.

Research and Cellular Therapies

The Red Cross has a research lab in Rockville, Maryland, called the Jerome H. Holland blood laboratory. They invest a lot in research to improve blood services.

They also offer cellular therapies. This involves collecting and treating blood cells to help patients. These treated cells can help restore normal cell function or replace cells lost due to illness or injury.

Training Services

The American Red Cross offers many health and safety training courses for the public. In 2017, they trained over 2 million people in life-saving skills.

Types of Courses Offered

The Red Cross provides a wide range of courses, including:

• First Aid, CPR, and AED (Automated External Defibrillator) training
• Water safety, like swimming and lifeguarding
• Babysitter's Training
• Basic Life Support for healthcare workers
• Wilderness and Remote First Aid

They also offer courses to become an instructor, so people can teach these skills to others.

Modern Training Tools

In 2018, the Red Cross started using new CPR mannequins. These mannequins have LED lights that show how blood flows during CPR. This helps students see if their compressions are effective, giving them instant feedback.

How Courses Are Run

American Red Cross courses can be run by the Red Cross itself, or by authorized and licensed training providers. Many aquatic courses, like lifeguarding, are often run by colleges, community centers, or fire departments.

Scientific Advisory Council

The Red Cross has a Scientific Advisory Council. This group includes over 50 experts in medicine, science, and aquatics. They help guide the Red Cross's health and safety programs.

Disaster Services

American Red Cross helping after the 1994 Northridge earthquake

An American Red Cross vehicle giving food to Grand Forks, North Dakota victims of the 1997 Red River flood

Satellite communications after Tropical Storm Debby in Lake City, Florida, 2012

Every year, the Red Cross responds to over 60,000 disasters. These include house fires, hurricanes, floods, earthquakes, and tornadoes.

The Red Cross is not a government agency, but the U.S. Congress gave it a special role in 1905. This role is to provide national and international relief during disasters. This means they have a duty to help disaster victims and the nation.

When a disaster happens, the Red Cross provides shelter, food, and health services. They also offer mental health support. Their main goal is to help individuals and families get back to their normal lives. They also provide translation services and have volunteers who speak many languages.

Local Red Cross chapters have volunteer teams called Disaster Action Teams. These teams help people in their communities.

The Red Cross also feeds emergency workers and helps families find loved ones after a disaster. They work with other groups like the Salvation Army. They also encourage people to be prepared for disasters by offering information and free classes.

It's important to know that the Red Cross usually doesn't provide medical facilities or do search and rescue. Those roles are for government agencies. Red Cross vehicles, which look like ambulances, are actually used to deliver food and supplies.

Disaster Services Workforce

The Red Cross has a national database of volunteers called the Disaster Services Workforce (DSW). These volunteers are trained for different tasks like providing food and shelter, assessing damage, and helping with communications. They also learn first aid and CPR.

Major Disaster Responses

The American Red Cross has helped in many major disasters throughout history.

1908 Messina Earthquake

In 1908, a huge earthquake and tsunami hit Messina, Italy. Americans donated nearly $1 million to the Red Cross to help. This was the Red Cross's first big response to an international civilian disaster. The aid helped show America's care for Italy.

World War I Efforts

Before the U.S. joined World War I, the Red Cross helped both sides. But once the U.S. joined the Allies, aid to the Central Powers stopped. President Wilson created the American Red Cross War Council in 1917. This council raised $400 million for the war effort.

The Red Cross helped millions of civilians displaced by the war. They provided food, housing, and medical aid. Over one-third of the U.S. population joined the Red Cross during the war. The Red Cross also helped spread American ideas about health and welfare in Europe.

Spanish Flu Outbreak of 1918

During the 1918 flu pandemic, local Red Cross chapters were very important. They helped communities prevent and treat the flu. They sewed masks, shared educational pamphlets, and provided nursing services. Their help was crucial in fighting the pandemic.

Helping Europe After the Wars

After World War I, the American Red Cross helped rebuild Europe. They worked with the American Relief Administration. With millions of members and government support, the Red Cross had a huge impact. They started nursing schools, child welfare projects, and anti-tuberculosis campaigns. They helped introduce new ideas about public health and social welfare.

World War II Efforts

In the 1940s, during World War II, the Red Cross had 7.5 million volunteers. They prepared millions of packages for prisoners of war and collected millions of pints of blood plasma for the armed forces. Americans donated over $784 million to support the Red Cross during this time.

2005 Hurricanes

Volunteers helping Hurricane victims at the Houston Astrodome, after Hurricane Katrina.

Before Hurricane Katrina hit in 2005, the Red Cross prepared by lining up 2,000 volunteers. After hurricanes Katrina, Wilma, and Rita, they opened many shelters. Over 300,000 Red Cross workers helped. They served 68 million snacks and meals. They also gave financial help to 1.4 million families. Katrina was the first time the Red Cross used its "Safe and Well" website to help families find each other.

Other Recent Disasters

The Red Cross also responded to the Comair Flight 5191 plane crash in 2006, helping families and friends of the victims. They also provided aid during the Central Florida Tornado of February 2007 and the May 2007 Tornado Outbreak in Kansas.

Following the I-35W Mississippi River bridge collapse in Minneapolis in 2007, the Red Cross provided food, comfort, and mental health support.

Most recently, in August 2023, the Red Cross deployed over 1,300 volunteers to help after the 2023 Hawaii wildfires. They provided over 257,000 overnight stays in shelters and hotels for displaced residents.

International Services

The American Red Cross is part of the worldwide International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. They work to help communities around the globe.

Global Health Programs

The Red Cross focuses on preventing and fighting infectious diseases like HIV/AIDS and measles. They work with partners like the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and UNICEF. The Measles Initiative, started in 2001, has helped vaccinate one billion children in over 60 countries. They also help with malaria prevention, providing mosquito nets and education.

Finding Separated Families

The Red Cross helps families who have been separated by wars or disasters. This service, called Restoring Family Links, tries to reconnect loved ones. They use a global network of Red Cross and Red Crescent societies to make this possible.

International Humanitarian Law

The Red Cross teaches Americans about international humanitarian law (IHL). This law sets rules for how people should act during warfare, as outlined in the Geneva Conventions.

Service to the Armed Forces

A World War II poster encouraging American women to volunteer for the Red Cross.

The Red Cross provides important services to the United States military. One key service is emergency family communications. Families can contact the Red Cross to send urgent messages to service members, such as news about a death or birth in the family.

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

During World War II, the Red Cross ran "clubmobiles" to provide food and entertainment to soldiers. General Dwight D. Eisenhower praised the Red Cross for being "the friendly hand of this nation" reaching out to support fighting men.

Jennie and Terrie Frankel performing for wounded soldiers at Great Lakes Naval Hospital in 1966.

During the Vietnam War, 627 American women served in the ARC Supplemental Recreation Overseas Program. Known as "Donut Dollies," they brought games and cheer to soldiers, even in forward areas. A documentary film, A Touch of Home: The Vietnam War's Red Cross Girls, tells their story.

Today, the Service to the Armed Forces (SAF) unit continues to help military members and their families.

Images for kids

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

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  American Red Cross hospital train in Dallas, 1919

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

See also

In Spanish: Cruz Roja Americana para niños

• American Red Cross Motor Corps
• American Red Cross Volunteer Life Saving Corps