Service Learning Assignment

The American Red Cross

The American Red Cross mission statement is “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 beneficiaries of the services that the organization offers are the major focus of this mission statement. This shows the value the institution places on people and that this is what motivates the management to keep doing more. They accomplish this lifesaving work through the generosity of the nearly 372,000 volunteers who give of their time and talent to help people in need. American Red Cross vision statement is “The American Red Cross, through its strong network of volunteers, donors and partners is always there in times of need. We aspire to turn compassion into action so that all people affected by disaster across the country and around the world receive care, shelter, and hope; our communities are ready and prepared for disasters; everyone in our country has access to safe, lifesaving blood and blood products; all members of our armed services and their families find support and comfort whenever needed; and in an emergency, there are always trained individuals nearby, ready to use their Red Cross skills to save lives.” American Red Cross core values include “compassionate, credible, collaborative, committed, and creative.” 

Volunteers carry out 90 percent of the humanitarian work of the Red Cross. They help victims of disaster, provide care and comfort to ill and injured service members and veterans, teach others lifesaving skills such as First Aid and CPR, help staff blood drives and much more.Red Cross volunteers respond to an average of more than 62,000 disasters every year. They help train more than 6.2 million people in Red Cross lifesaving skills; help provide more than 442,000 services to military members, veterans and their families and help reconnect more than 8,000 families separated by war or disaster around the world. In addition, roughly 2.7 million volunteer donors give blood every year.

After reflecting on the American Red Cross’ goals and mission, my values, opinions, and beliefs about the importance of health have grown. At first I thought that the American Red Cross was just an organization that just wanted everyone’s blood, considering all the emails I get from them on a day to day basis; but I was wrong. They help provide shelter and other types of sources for families during times of disasters and challenge. The American Red Cross is precisely a humanitarian sector. They are important because they shelter, feed and provide emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The importance of the Red Cross cannot be overstated. 

The American Red Cross relies on the more than 20,000 nurses and other health professionals who bring our mission to life each day. Red Cross nurses serve as the initial medical response at a shelter. They assess basic medical needs of clients and address quick and easy fixes, such as a cut or sprain. Phlebotomists are the face of the American Red Cross to the blood donors, making a personal connection with them and ensuring they have a top-notch donation experience. I would possibly make this a parallel major being that it could be a fall back plan if nursing doesn’t work out and I could make advancements within the job and have the possibility of working for the Department of Defense.