About the American Red Cross
American Red Cross
On May 21, 1881, Clara Barton founded the American Red Cross (ARC). She had first heard of the International Red Cross while visiting Europe following the American Civil War. Helping during that terrible struggle, she realized the need for a society to help in aiding soldiers wounded in battle.
This need first began during the Crimean War of 1854 on the battlefields of the Crimea with an English nurse named, Florence Nightingale. She noticed the appalling conditions wounded men were subjected to and especially the unsanitary practices of the physicians. Soon her early efforts would evolve into the International Red Cross.
Barton believed that the European model would be beneficial in the United States and fought to create the organization of today- the American Red Cross. Beginning as an organization to help soldiers wounded in war, the Red Cross has evolved into an organization helping in numerous different capacities of humanitarian care and aid.
In 1882 after a lot of heated debate on the viability and necessity of having an organization like ARC, Congress finally ratified Barton's dream and the American Red Cross was officially born. Barton would head the organization for 23 years fostering its growth and importance helping in its evolution.
The ARC has been instrumental in helping and comforting wounded soldiers in all the wars the United States has fought in since the Spanish American War of 1898 and will continue to minister to soldiers in all future conflicts.
Today the ARC has a variety of roles With over 97 million volunteers, the ARC is capable of answering the call and giving whatever aid is needed for any type of disaster. They offer medical services, humanitarian aid, disaster relief and prevention, classes in cardiopulmonary resuscitation or CPR as it is commonly called, first aid training and classes available to anyone, clothing and food during emergencies, and disaster preparedness training.
Volunteers to the ARC come from all walks of life and ethnic backgrounds. Irregardless of where a volunteer comes from all are dedicated to one purpose and that is helping others in times of need.
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