How the American Red Cross Works

Browse the article How the American Red Cross Works

Introduction to How the American Red Cross Works

Since 1881, the American Red Cross has been completely focused on humanitarian relief. More than 95 percent of the Red Cross' staff is made up of volunteers, and over a million people volunteer every year [ref].

While the American Red Cross is one of the world's largest aid organizations, it is only one branch of a worldwide movement dedicated to providing relief to victims of disasters and helping people prevent, prepare for and respond to emergencies.

In this article, we'll learn about the functions of the American Red Cross and how it provides all of its services. We'll also discuss the history of the American Red Cross and the International Red Cross and Red Crescent movement.

Red Cross Functions

Extremes The worst disaster that American Red Cross has dealt with in terms of loss of life was the hurricane that struck Galveston, Texas in 1900. Approximately 6,000 people were killed. The terrorist attack of Sept. 11, 2001 was the most expensive, costing almost $1 billion in aid. That disaster also brought 54,577 rescue workers into action.
Source: Red Cross FAQ

The American Red Cross' main functions fall into four areas: blood collection, disaster relief, aid to soldiers and victims of war, and community education and outreach.

Blood Collection
Many people know of the Red Cross primarily through its blood collection efforts. It collects and maintains about half of the United States blood supply from roughly 4 million donors [ref]. In 2001, this amounted to more than 7 million units of blood. Americans require about 39,000 units of blood every day because of accidents, surgery, illness or disease [ref]. The blood is used by all of the nation's hospitals and by the United States military.

Blood that has been collected by the Red Cross is carefully labeled and shipped to two different places: a component lab and a testing lab. The testing lab puts the blood through nine tests to make sure it is safe and free from transmissible diseases. The component lab separates the blood into red blood cells, platelets and plasma. Once the test results are received, the components are shipped to hospitals according to need.

Disaster Relief
Disaster relief is another major aspect of the Red Cross. Although the primary responsibility for dealing with disasters lies with local, state and federal governments, in the immediate aftermath of a disaster, the needs of victims can easily overwhelm the capabilities of government officials. The Red Cross strives to respond to any disaster or emergency incident within two hours of being notified, although this is not always possible because of hazardous conditions.

Photo courtesy Michael Seamans, American Red Cross
A Hurricane Katrina victim gets a hug from a Red Cross worker at the St. Agnes service center in Houston, Texas.

When the Red Cross arrives at the scene of a disaster, the first priority is to provide food, water, shelter and medical services. Medical services include first aid as well as treatment for certain ongoing conditions. For example, someone who needs dialysis or diabetes medication can get help from the Red Cross during a disaster. The Red Cross also provides mental health counseling to disaster victims, volunteers and rescuers. Mental health assistance is vital because anyone involved in a disaster sees and experiences things far beyond their normal lives, and it can be very difficult to deal with these experiences. The Red Cross has specially trained personnel with experience in disaster counseling.

Red Cross services also work to help people resume their lives in the wake of a disaster, giving them the tools to sustain themselves. This can include referrals, transportation or occupational tools. Finally, in situations where insurance and government help are not enough, the Red Cross can offer long-term help for rebuilding. All of these services are in addition to the logistics of housing, feeding and coordinating rescuers, medical personnel and victims. Using bulletin boards, Internet sites and other communications tools, the Red Cross also tries to reunite families that were separated in the midst of a disaster.

When there is a major disaster somewhere else in the world, such as the 2004 tsunami, the American Red Cross sends people and supplies to supplement the efforts of the other Red Cross and Red Crescent groups and works to coordinate relief from other national groups.

Aid to Soldiers and Victims of War
In times of war, the Red Cross fulfills the original goal of the International Red Cross movement -- to provide aid and comfort to soldiers and victims of war. This often takes the form of distributing care packages and keeping members of the armed forces in contact with family members.

Photo courtesy U.S. Army
Sgt. Maj. Ronald Simons talks to his son through the Red Cross' Project Video Connect.

Community Education and Outreach
The Red Cross impacts communities across the U.S. with its health and safety education programs. Through babysitter training courses, lifeguard training, CPR training and certification and HIV/AIDS education, they give people the tools to become lifesavers themselves. In addition, the Red Cross offers Workplace Training Courses in a variety of health and safety areas.

Photo courtesy American Red Cross
A Red Cross CPR class in session

Local Red Cross chapters provide a wide range of humanitarian services, including food pantries, senior services, community service programs, homeless shelters and youth groups.

In the next section, we'll look at the history of the Red Cross.

Donating Blood

Photo courtesy American Red Cross
A Red Cross blood drive

The process of donating blood doesn't take very long and is virtually painless. You can find a nearby Red Cross donation center here.

When you arrive at the donation center, you will read some information about donating blood before registering and giving your medical history. Then you'll receive a mini-physical to check your temperature, blood pressure and iron level. These steps are completely confidential, but the information is very important so the Red Cross can make sure they are collecting safe blood.

When it's time to donate, you'll sit in a comfortable reclining chair or lie on a cot. A nurse will clean part of your arm and use a needle to extract the blood into one or more plastic bags. The needle feels like a small pinch. After they collect about a pint of blood (which takes about 10 minutes), the process is over. A small bandage will be placed over the needle mark, but it usually doesn't bleed more than a drop or two.

Before you leave, you'll be given cookies and juice. It's important to drink fluids and avoid heavy exercise for a few hours after donating, to give your body time to recover. It takes your body about 24 hours to regenerate a pint of blood, and many people don't notice any side effects. In 56 days (the minimum wait required by U.S. health regulations), you'll be ready to donate again. Note that the Red Cross does not pay for blood; all donors are volunteers.

Red Cross History

Photo courtesy U.S. Library of Congress
Jean-Henri Dunant, author, philanthropist and founder of the Red Cross

The Red Cross movement started in Europe with Swiss businessman Jean-Henri Dunant. In 1859, he witnessed a bloody battle near Solferino, Italy that left the battlefield strewn with wounded soldiers. Dunant was horrified that the men were left there to die from their injuries. He organized local villagers into volunteer teams that recovered the injured, brought them into homes and churches and cared for them as best they could.

With little or no medical training or supplies, there was a limit to what they could accomplish. Dunant vowed to harness the willingness of people to help those in need by organizing and training international relief groups. These groups would remain independent of any nation, and work on battlefields worldwide to provide aid to civilians and soldiers who were victims of war.

In 1863, a Geneva, Switzerland conference outlined the principles of the Red Cross movement. At a second conference, participants drew up the Geneva Convention. This was a set of rules for the treatment of wounded on the battlefield and the general conduct of war. It was initially signed by twelve European nations. Today, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) works in war zones and on battlefields worldwide.

Photo courtesy
Clara Barton National Historic Site
Clara Barton, founder of the American Red Cross

Photo courtesy
Clara Barton National Historic Site
Sign from Clara's Washington, D.C. office

During the American Civil War, a former schoolteacher and office clerk named Clara Barton volunteered to nurse wounded soldiers. She realized that medical care behind the lines could only accomplish so much -- wounded men needed medical care as soon after the battle as possible. As a battlefield nurse, Barton witnessed the horrors of war firsthand. After the war, she created a system for tracking down missing soldiers and reuniting them with their families. On a trip to Europe, Barton learned of the Red Cross, and was struck by the parallels between her efforts and those of Dunant. After volunteering with the Red Cross in European wars, she returned home and began organizing the American Red Cross, although the United States had not yet signed the Geneva Convention. She was determined to overcome the political isolation of the era, and she also recognized the toll that natural disasters exacted on U.S. citizens every year. The American Red Cross would not restrict its efforts to wartime.

In the early 1880s, deadly floods and forest fires drew attention to Barton's efforts. Within a few years, the U.S. government signed the Geneva Convention and accepted the American Red Cross organization. Later, Barton would travel again to Europe, where she eventually convinced the Red Cross federations to develop plans for peacetime relief efforts. Barton served as President of the American Red Cross for 23 years, and traveled to battlefields around the world to personally oversee relief efforts.

The American Red Cross is part of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), an umbrella organization that unites nearly 200 national Red Cross and Red Crescent societies. The national organizations are independent, but the IFRC coordinates their efforts and helps them unite for international relief projects. This federation is focused on disaster relief, rather than the war aid provided by the ICRC.

Next, we'll find out how the American Red Cross is structured.

The Principles of the Red Cross Movement Seven principles represent the philosophy shared by every Red Cross or Red Crescent organization in the world:

Humanity
Impartiality
Neutrality
Independence
Voluntary Service
Unity
Universality

Source: Red Cross FAQ

Red Cross Structure

Cross and Crescent The Red Cross' symbol, a red cross on a white background, is the reverse of the national flag of Switzerland, a country noted for its neutrality. The design was also chosen because it would be easily recognizable and simple to reproduce from scratch if necessary.

The cross was not intended to have any religious connotations. However, a cross of any kind is a powerful reminder of Christianity for many people, so aid organizations in most Muslim countries choose to use a Red Crescent instead. Israel's Magen David Adom aid group uses a red Star of David.

The American Red Cross is made up of 769 regional or city-based chapters. Every chapter is officially chartered by the national Board of Governors. The directors of the chapters have some degree of autonomy is determining which programs and services are most vital in their area, while the Red Cross' $4.1 billion annual budget is distributed at the national level to the individual chapters.

The Red Cross is not funded by the government; its budget comes from donations as well as cost-recovery fees that are charged for some services. In certain circumstances, the Red Cross recieves government money because the government has contracted the Red Cross to carry out some aspect of relief efforts. Because it is a non-profit, charitable organization, the Red Cross is tax-exempt.

The Red Cross is not completely independent of the United States government, however. The organization runs under a Congressional charter that has been in place since 1905. Under this charter, the Red Cross acts as an "instrument of the government," carrying out the duties and responsibilities of the Geneva Convention and other tasks that the federal government delegates to it [ref]. The Federal Food & Drug Administration (FDA) monitors the Red Cross' blood collection and storage programs.

The president of the American Red Cross is elected by a 50-member Board of Governors. The members of the board are volunteers, while the president draws a salary of more than $200,000 per year. Some presidents have offered to forgo this salary [ref]. The President of the U.S. is considered the honorary chairperson of the Board of Governors, and also appoints eight of the board members. The other 42 members are elected at the annual national convention. The board elects 12 of them, and 30 are elected by the delegates from various Red Cross chapters who attend the convention.

The rest of the Red Cross' roster is made up of approximately 1.2 million volunteers and about 40,000 paid employees, mostly nurses.

In the next section we'll examine the controversy that sometimes plagues the Red Cross.

Getting Relief To Where It's Needed

One of the biggest challenges the Red Cross faces is efficiently distributing relief money and supplies to those who need it. To streamline the process, it does not accept small individual donations of material items, such as clothing, toiletries or food. It would take far too much time and manpower to sort and transport the items, in addition to problems with safety and cleanliness. Instead, the Red Cross takes monetary donations and uses them to issue vouchers. The vouchers are redeemable at local stores and allow disaster victims to purchase the specific items they need. Distributing aid this way also helps the local economy and lets recipients of the aid feel more in control of their situation.

The Red Cross does accept large bulk donations from corporations of items like water or non-perishable food. When it is time to distribute supplies like this at a disaster site, the Red Cross attempts to coordinate their efforts with local chapters and other local humanitarian aid groups. However, this coordination can often be problematic in areas that have recently been devastated by a disaster. Communication systems are often non-existent, and conditions can make it difficult or impossible to reach certain areas.

Once immediate emergency medical concerns are dealt with, the Red Cross sets up bulk distribution centers in stable and easily accessible locations. Here, people can get food and water as well as necessities like diapers, flashlights, cleaning supplies, soap, coolers and ice. Red Cross delivery trucks will work through outlying areas to reach people who can't get to the distribution center for any reason [ref].

Controversy and Conflict

The American Red Cross has not always operated smoothly. The end of Clara Barton's tenure as president of the Red Cross was marked by an internal power struggle that resulted in accusations of improper bookkeeping on her part, and ended with her resignation.

Controversy involving the presidency of the Red Cross erupted again during the 1996 campaign for United States President. Senator Bob Dole was running as the Republican candidate and his wife Elizabeth Dole was head of the American Red Cross. There were reports that she used a personally selected group of advisers to shift Red Cross policy for reasons that may have had more to do with her husband's political standing than the demands of health and safety programs [ref].

Marsha Evans resigned from the presidency in December of 2005. Although some critics claim that this is related to the Red Cross' Hurricane Katrina relief efforts, Evans cited difficulties in dealing with the Board of Governors. She had held the position since 2002.

The Red Cross' blood collection services have come under fire for violations of safety protocols for blood collection and storage. In 2001, the FDA filed a motion in federal court to publicize the Red Cross' failure to improve several specific deficiencies in the blood collection program, such as improper labeling and lack of inventory controls [ref]. The Red Cross claimed that all the FDA violations were simple bookkeeping errors, and that there is no danger to the nation's blood supply.

The Red Cross has also been criticized by gay rights groups who claim that some of their blood donation restrictions discriminate against gay men. Donors who have engaged in certain activities that put them at high risk for blood-borne diseases are restricted from donating for a certain period of time, or in some cases banned for life. Examples include getting a tattoo, living in Africa, using illegal drugs intravenously, or engaging in male-to-male sex. A man who has had a sex with another man after 1977 (or a woman who has had sex with a man who has had sex with a man) is banned from donating blood for life. In 2000, the issue was reviewed, but the Red Cross did not revise the ban [ref].

Photo courtesy FEMA
Red Cross Disaster Relief truck

Some of the Red Cross' financial donors have been angered to find out that some of the money they donated was diverted to fund future relief efforts, instead of the disaster that prompted their donation. For example, about $200 million of the $1.1 billion collected in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks was put aside to fund future relief efforts. Donor complaints resulted in the money being shifted back to 9/11 relief, the resignation of Red Cross president Bernadine Healy, and a promise of greater transparency in the agency's financial dealings in the future [ref]. Despite those efforts, complaints surfaced again in 2005, when funds donated for relief from Hurricane Katrina were not earmarked for long-term rebuilding (something for which Red Cross funds are not traditionally used).

Others complained that the Red Cross' relief efforts after Katrina were insufficient, poorly organized and targeted to white storm victims, while black victims didn't receive help for days. The Red Cross has refuted some of these claims here.

For more information about the American Red Cross, check out the links on the next page.

Lots More Information