Red Cross Services Old and New

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Several Red Cross societies employed dogs during WWI (at left). A number of these dogs were attached to ambulance units and aided their handlers in the search for wounded soldiers. The Red Cross dogs got close, so the soldier could access the dogs’ saddle bags, which contained first aid supplies and rations. Instead of barking and alerting the enemy, the dogs were trained to bring back something belonging to the soldier. Today, the American Red Cross uses therapy dogs (at right). These dogs and their owners volunteer in shelters and nursing homes across the country and in hospitals around the world, including supporting veterans and military families stationed in the United States and overseas.

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In 1904 in New York, a paddle boat was carrying more than 1,300 people on an outing up the East River when it caught fire. It burned quickly, pitching old and young people into the water. More than 1,000 people died in the disaster. Wilbert E. Longfellow (at left) saw the need for a nationwide program of swimming and lifesaving training. In February 1914, Longfellow began the Red Cross Water Safety program and established the Red Cross Lifesaving Corps. After more than 100 years (at right), the American Red Cross aquatics program continues to reach millions of Americans through its innovative water safety resources, including teaching more than 2 million people a year in swimming with training providers.

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The American Red Cross created its new First Aid Training Department, with named Major Charles Lynch as its director, in October 1909 to begin providing widespread first aid instruction in the United States. Around the following year, the Pullman Company donated a railroad car (at left) for the Red Cross to use around the country as a classroom for first aid instruction.Today communities, workplaces and hospitals across the country are safer because millions of people take Red Cross classes each year, including more than 4.5 million people who receive Red Cross training annually in first aid, water safety, nurse assistant training and testing, along with other skills that help save lives. Here (at right), a student learns how to apply the pads to use an automated external defibrillator (AED).

February 28, 2023

During Red Cross Month, we honor those who make the American Red Cross mission possible to prevent and alleviate human suffering in the face of emergencies by mobilizing the power of volunteers and the generosity of donors.

For more than 140 years, people have stepped up through the Red Cross to help when needed. These pictures show some of the ways they’ve helped over the years — even with the support of furry friends.

OUR SERVICES TODAY These are just a few of the ways our lifesaving services have evolved over time. Now, each year, the Red Cross:

Disaster Relief: Responds to more than 60,000 disasters, reaches nearly 135,000 youth about disaster preparedness and sends more than 500 million alerts through our mobile apps.
Blood Services: Supplies about 40% of our nation’s blood, delivering more than 6.3 million blood products for transfusion to meet the needs of patients at 2,500 hospitals and other facilities across the country.
Training Services: Trains over 4.6 million people a year in first aid, water safety and other skills that help save lives. In addition, people download resources nearly 460,000 times a year from our free First Aid, Pet First Aid and Swim apps.
International Services: Helps nearly 143 million people outside the U.S. each year with disease prevention activities and disaster services. The American Red Cross also helps reconnect, on average, more than 4,000 families every year who have been separated by war, disaster or migration around the world.
Service to the Armed Forces: The Red Cross has been helping members of our country’s armed forces, our veterans and civilians since the Spanish-American War. Today, the Red Cross provides about 540,000 services to members of the military and veterans every year.

HOW TO GET INVOLVED Join our Red Cross Month celebration by getting involved with our mission by volunteering, giving blood, taking a lifesaving skills course or making a financial donation on Red Cross Giving Day, March 22. Learn more at redcross.org/redcrossmonth.

About the American Red Cross:

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. For more information, please visit redcross.org or CruzRojaAmericana.org, or follow us on social media.