The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides comfort to victims of disasters; supplies about 40% of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; distributes international humanitarian aid; and supports veterans, military members and their families. The Red Cross is a nonprofit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to deliver its mission.
We 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. We respond to an average of about 65,000 disasters every year, and the vast majority of disasters we respond to are home fires. Our purpose is to meet the immediate disaster-caused needs of individuals, families, and communities, and 95% of our disaster relief workers are volunteers.
We train people for moments that matter. An important part of the American Red Cross mission is to spread knowledge and educate members of the national community in lifesaving procedures. Our services include training courses for CPR and AED, First Aid, BLS (Basic Life Support), Babysitting, Caregiving, Lifeguarding Water Safety, and more. Whether you are looking for a required certificate for work or finding new ways to support and serve those around you, Red Cross Training Services can help.
We serve those who serve our nation. Our commitment never wavers as the Red Cross helps members of the military, veterans and their families prepare for, cope with, and respond to, the challenges of military service. Volunteers provide home comforts and critical services on bases and in military hospitals around the world. We support military families during deployments and emergencies and continue serving our nation’s veterans after their service ends. The Red Cross has been serving the military for more than 140 years and has deployed alongside military in every U.S. conflict since the Spanish-American War.
We help to save lives around the world. Each year, disasters and crises devastate millions of people. As part of the world’s largest humanitarian network, Red Cross Red Crescent teams provide relief and hope in nearly every corner of the globe. Volunteers often come from the communities they serve, making us powerful change-makers. Together, Red Cross Red Crescent teams not only respond to emergencies—such as earthquakes, droughts, and health epidemics—but also help neighborhoods prepare for future disasters and ensure that children receive the vaccines they need to stay healthy.
We collect lifesaving blood. Every two seconds someone in the U.S. needs blood. It is essential for surgeries, cancer treatment, chronic illnesses, and traumatic injuries. Whether a patient receives whole blood, red cells, platelets or plasma, this lifesaving care starts with one person making a generous donation. While we don’t collect blood in Louisiana, the Red Cross provides about 40% of our nation’s blood and blood components, all from generous volunteer donors.