By Maureen Zug

National Public Health Week is an annual celebration of the importance of public health in preventing disease, promoting wellness, and ensuring equitable access to healthcare. It’s a time to celebrate the progress made in public health and to recommit to addressing ongoing challenges. Within the last 100 years  through the administration of public health programs, the average American life expectancy has increased by 30 years from 47 to 79 years.  This year’s annual celebration is scheduled  for April 7  through April 13, 2025, the first full week of April. This commemoration is sponsored by the American Public Health Association (APHA).

How the American Red Cross Supports Public Health

The American Red Cross promotes public health awareness and provides services to communities through its humanitarian mission.  This mission is enabled via the generosity of donors and the dedication of its highly trained volunteers.

Here are some areas in which the Red Cross moved the public health cause forward:

Disaster Response: By responding to natural disasters, wildfires, floods, hurricanes, etc. and community tragedies like mass shootings, the Red Cross provides temporary food, shelter and  spiritual support for communities in crisis.  The  organization partners with local community partners to stabilize crisis situations and start clients on the path to recovery.

Blood Supply: In organizing blood drives and maintaining a national delivery system of a safe blood supply, the Red Cross provides critical public health infrastructure to healthcare institutions like hospitals and cancer treatment centers.

Service to the Armed Forces: In service to those who serve and their families from enlistment to retirement from active duty,  the Red Cross is a presence on military bases and VA Hospitals.

Training and Certification: Through programs like CPR/AED instruction, lifeguard training and certification, First Aid classes, swimming lessons and more, the Red Cross conducts instruction and certifications under the guidance of subject matter experts who deliver proven results in their training fields.

International Services: As a member of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), the American Red Cross is part of the world health community.  It sends volunteers to work under the auspices of the IFRC to alleviate famine, assist the displaced in conflict zones, and to help with climate-originated natural disasters. Early response to these types of disasters can prevent global pandemics and even stop public health crises in the United States.

Home Safety and Disaster Prevention: The Red Cross is not only a disaster- response organization, but a disaster- prevention organization.  With programs like  Sound the Alarm, the free installation of smoke detectors in homes by Red Cross volunteers, home fire safety planning and prevention, and climate disaster preparedness, the Red Cross informs community resilience via preparedness and a “can-do” spirit.

Red Cross National Nursing Committee

Volunteer nurses serve at all levels of the Red Cross — chapter, regionally, and nationally. They hold licenses at the LPN, RN, BSN, or doctoral levels in support of public health programs, disaster prevention and response.  Here are some current public health initiatives supported by Red Cross nurses:

Elimination of Measles and Rubella: In conjunction with local community partners, Red Cross nurses work to vaccinate children and educate families on the critical importance of immunization to eliminate the dangers of these diseases to long-term health.

The Effects of Diabetes and Hypertension: At local blood drives, volunteer nurses alert blood donors on risks and prevention of these two common diseases. They emphasize need for early, consistent treatment.

Community Adaptation Programs: The strategies offered by the Red Cross National Nursing Committee are developed for the entire country.  However,  the alleviation of hunger, levelling of healthcare inequity, and remedies for unfair housing issues are applied with local community partners. Volunteer nurses are an in valuable resource for all manner of public health programs provided by the American Red Cross.

Learn more by visiting APHA’s National Public Health Week website.