March is American Red Cross Month, and C & A Scientific is excited to share information with you about the organization’s history. Our passion for supporting medical distributors extends to philanthropic medical organizations as well.
Here is a brief rundown of the history of the Red Cross and its beginnings in the United States.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
- The Red Cross Was Founded in Switzerland
- The American Red Cross
- C & A Scientific’s Commitment
The Red Cross Was Founded in Switzerland
Henri Durant founded the International Red Cross in Geneva, Switzerlandin response to the brutal Battle of Solferino in 1859 as part of the Second Italian War of Independence. During this battle, over 40,000 people died or were wounded.
In 1862, Dunant published his book A Memory of Solferino. He proposed that voluntary relief societies be established in all countries as a source of protection during war and peacetime. He later became a member of the International Committee of the Red Cross.
This committee began establishing relief branches in all countries. Armies were instructed to identify these relief services with the Red Cross flag, which is an inverse of the Swiss national flag.
After the First World War, the International Red Cross established a in Geneva to help captured soldiers find their families. In 1918, the organization mandated that national armies stop using mustard gas. The same year, its representatives also visited political prisoners to contact their families and the outside world.
In parallel with the International Red Cross, the Ottoman Empire created its own organization called the Red Crescent Society to offer relief for countries under the oversight of the Ottoman Empire. At the time, the Red Crescent Society primarily operated in Turkey, and it would later work in Egypt. During the Second World War, the Red Crescent Society also began aid projects in Lebanon, Iraq, Syria, and Jordan .
The American Red Cross
The American branch of the Red Cross was established in 1881 by Clara Barton. After founding the American chapter, she served as the head of the agency until 1904. While she ran the establishment, the Red Cross relieved the tidal wave in Galveston, Texas, in 1900 and the flood in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, in 1889. The group also assisted American forces during the Spanish-American War in 1898.
During the early 1900s, the United States branch of the Red Cross began to extend its efforts for first aid training and water safety. During the First World War, the organization grew from 100 local chapters to 3,800.
The Red Cross also recruited over 20,000 nurses for military service during this period, and many continued to work with the non-profit after the war. This training and recruitment tripled during the Second World War. Additionally, in 1941, the organization began to create a national blood donation program to collect blood for the United States Armed Forces.
C & A Scientific’s Commitment
The Red Cross continues its work for disaster relief and wartime efforts in the United States today and worldwide. C & A proudly supports the Red Cross’s mission to alleviate human suffering during disasters or emergencies.
We are excited to help healthcare distributors get the necessary supplies to continue their dedicated work. Check out our Medical catalog to learn more about how we support medical distributors.
C & A Scientific is a dedicated leader in improving the health and minds of people worldwide. We supply over 700 award-winning medical and STEM-inspired products to distributors and retailers seeking sensational customer service. Learn more about us and our story here.