In times of emergency, the American Red Cross helps military families communicate with their loved ones and help facilitate their return home through our Hero Care Network. Available 24/7, the Red Cross connects service members, veterans and their families to this free and confidential assistance any day, anytime.
This includes emergency communication messages, financial assistance, critical community services and more. In 2023, the Red Cross assisted more than 87,000 families with emergency situations, and nearly 136,000 families received critical community services.
The Red Cross can help connect families after an illness or death of an immediate family member or a significant life event such as the birth of a child. When a service member or their family member initiates an emergency message, Red Cross staff work with the family and appropriate professionals, such as doctors and nurses, to verify the emergency. Emergencies include the illness/injury or death of an immediate family member, as well as birth messages. Once initiated, this verified message is provided to the command, enabling the service member’s commander to make an informed decision regarding emergency leave.
You can initiate a request for Red Cross emergency assistance and track its progress from anywhere in the world online, by phone, through our mobile app or in person. To best prepare for an emergency, please review the eligibility requirements and keep on-hand your service member’s information needed for reporting an emergency message with the Hero Care Network.
To access the Hero Care Network, visit redcross.org/saf, download the Red Cross Hero Care App, or call a Hero Care specialist at 1-877-272-7337.
SAFE AND IN GOOD SPIRITS In September of 1988, a young U.S. Navy pilot was thrown into the cold waters of the East China Sea when his helicopter crashed. The crew was rescued after two long hours battling rough seas with nothing but life vests.
The crew was flown to the USS Midway to receive medical treatment. The pilot immediately requested to relay a message to his parents that he survived the crash and was okay. The next day, the pilot’s father received a letter from the American Red Cross emergency communications program, dated September 22, 1988.
“Servicemember was involved in a helicopter mishap,” the letter read. “USS Midway reports serviceman requests [to] inform parents… that he is safe and in good spirits.”
Jim Bounds would go on to an accomplished career as a Naval Aviator, working his way up from Lieutenant at the time of the crash to Commander before retiring in 2008.
“Knowing that the Red Cross notified my mom and dad that I was okay brought me peace and solace after experiencing the most terrifying moment of my life,” Jim expressed. “Now as a parent myself, I have a new level of understanding of what receiving that letter must have meant to them.”
Commander Jim Bounds (Ret.) lives in San Diego and still serves his country by working in a civilian role for the U.S. Navy. His daughter Paige, inspired by his lifetime of service, is a volunteer for the American Red Cross.
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE As part of the Hero Care Network, the Red Cross works with military aid societies to connect eligible military, retired military, veterans and their families with financial assistance in times of hardship. This assistance can include funds for emergency travel, food, shelter and more.
Military aid societies are private, nonprofit organizations that provide financial assistance to their corresponding branch of the military. While the Red Cross helps facilitate the application process, the military aid society determines eligibility and the specific financial assistance package that is offered.
The Red Cross also partners with veteran organizations to assist veteran benefits and financial assistance in communities around the U.S.
SUPPORT FOR CAREGIVERS The Red Cross Military Veteran Caregiver Network (MCVN) is also available for veterans and their caregivers to offer support for the country’s approximately 5.5 million caregivers of military and veteran wounded, ill or injured. See more about the MCVN here.
ABOUT RED CROSS EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS In times of emergency, the Red Cross helps military families communicate with their loved ones through the Hero Care Network, available 24 hours a day, seven days a week online, by phone and through the mobile app. In 2023, Red Cross volunteers delivered emergency communications messages connecting over 87,000 service members with their loved ones during times of family need.
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.
Support all the urgent humanitarian needs of the American Red Cross.
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