March is Red Cross Month

Feb 28, 2017 — by Jasmin Manzano

The American Red Cross prevents and alleviates human suffering in the face of emergencies by mobilizing the power of volunteers and the generosity of donors. The American Red Cross exists to provide compassionate care to those in need. Our generous donors, volunteers and employees are part of a nationwide network committed to preventing and relieving suffering here at home, across the country, and around the world. The Red Cross empowers ordinary people to perform extraordinary acts in emergency situations. We train. We mobilize. We connect donors and volunteers to those in urgent need of a helping hand. Whether it is a wildfire or a heart attack, a call for blood, a call for help after a devastating home fire, or a call from a service member or military family in need, the Red Cross is there. All Red Cross assistance is free, made possible by voluntary donations of time and money from the American people. The Red Cross is dedicated to providing help and hope to those in need. The Red Cross provides food and shelter in emergencies, assists members of our armed forces, veterans and their families, teaches lifesaving skills to ensure our communities are prepared to respond to emergencies, and so much more. Each year, for over 70 years, March has been proclaimed "Red Cross Month,” a special time to honor and celebrate the everyday heroes who help us fulfill our mission. The American Red Cross respond to an emergency every 8 minutes No one else does this: not the government, not other charities. From small house fires to multi-state natural disasters, the American Red Cross goes wherever we’re needed, so people can have clean water, safe shelter and hot meals when they need them most. Volunteers carry out 90 percent of the humanitarian work of the Red Cross. At the American Red Cross of San Diego/Imperial Counties, volunteers constitute over 96 percent of the Red Cross workforce within our region. Donors want to know how much of their donation goes to the humanitarian services and programs the Red Cross provides-- an average of 91 cents of every dollar the Red Cross spends is invested in our humanitarian services and programs.

The American Red Cross provides help and hope to those in need through five lines of service: Disaster Relief, Service to the Armed Forces, Preparedness, Health & Safety Services, International Services and Blood Services.

Disaster Relief Bringing Help and Hope to Those in Need The Red Cross provides assistance to members of the community through the three phases of a disaster: preparation, response, and recovery. Programs and services include education and training to prepare for disasters, financial assistance and support in response to disasters, and additional support during the recovery process. The American Red Cross of San Diego/Imperial Counties responds to about one disaster every 24 hours. Disaster volunteers are on call 24/7 to respond to disasters big and small—many of these are middle-of-the-night home fires. The nationwide Red Cross Home Fire Campaign aims to reduce home fire deaths and injuries across the country. In San Diego and Imperial Counties, the local Red Cross has installed over 7,000 free smoke alarms to residents in vulnerable and high-risk communities. Service to the Armed Forces Our Commitment Never Wavers The Red Cross helps members of the military, veterans and their families prepare for, cope with, and respond to, the challenges of military service. We support members of the military and their families pre-deployment, during deployment and when they return home through emergency communication services, financial assistance programs, re-integration and veteran services, family reconnection workshops and more. The Red Cross has served more than 1 million military families since 9/11. Red Cross volunteers provide home comforts and critical services on bases and in military hospitals around the world. While we support military families during deployments and emergencies, we also continue serving our nation’s veterans after their service ends. Every day, the American Red Cross provides 24/7 global emergency communication services and support in military and veteran health care facilities across the country and around the world. In 2016, the American Red Cross of San Diego/Imperial Counties provided services to 64,490 military members, veterans and their families. Preparedness, Health and Safety Services Teaching the Lifesaving Skills Needed to Respond During Emergencies At the American Red Cross, training people how to respond to and prepare for emergencies is our core mission. We offer a range of health and safety classes that teach new skills and keep people knowledgeable, confident and ready to respond in almost any emergency situation. With courses to cover all key areas of training, available online and in classrooms across the country. We empower our community with lifesaving health, safety and preparedness skills through courses such as First Aid/CPR training, aquatics and water safety classes, caregiver training and more. Blood Services Putting Lifesaving Blood on the Shelves for Patients in Need Every two seconds, someone in the United States needs blood. The American Red Cross is the nation’s largest blood collection organization, supplying approximately 40 percent of the blood and blood products used in our country. The American Red Cross of San Diego/Imperial Counties provides about half of the blood on the shelves in San Diego. Blood donations help millions of patients in need. Blood and platelets are needed for many different reasons— accident and burn victims, heart surgery patients, organ transplant patients, and those receiving treatment for leukemia, cancer or sickle cell disease may all need blood. A single car accident victim can require as many as 100 pints of blood. Our blood donors are ordinary people – high school students, office workers, business executives, parents and grandparents, and people from every walk of life. But they share one thing – a generous spirit and a desire to give back to their community and help others. Visit redcrossblood.org to see how you can help. International Services: Local Priorities, Sustainable Results -- Helping Communities Around the World The American Red Cross is part of the world’s largest humanitarian network. Working together, we help respond to disasters, build safer communities, and educate future humanitarians. As part of a global network of nearly 200 Red Cross and Red Crescent societies and more than 13 million volunteers, we respond to disasters, build safer communities and educate future humanitarians around the world every day. Red Cross International Services helps reconnect loved ones around the world after separation due to natural disasters, armed conflict, migration, or other humanitarian emergencies. The Red Cross also plays a pivotal role in vaccination campaigns. With support from the Red Cross, volunteers use mass media, rallies, door-to-door visits and educational entertainment to reach families who do not have access to routine health services, whether they live in distant villages or urban settlements. The American Red Cross has provided technical and financial support to 12 African countries in measles and rubella vaccination campaigns. When you support the Red Cross, you become part of a movement that brings hope to people during what may be their darkest day. During Red Cross Month, and all year-round, we encourage everyone to find their inner hero. There are so many ways to support the lifesaving mission of the American Red Cross. Please visit redcross.org for more information on how you can join us in bringing help and hope to those in need in our backyard, across the country, and around the world. Donate by buying the Red Cross Charity bracelet today.

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