Public health systems and community resources are critical in promoting public health and safety in response to calamities and disasters. The intricate mechanism of response and collaboration between various stakeholders for public health improves the equity of care in the communities. They provide services like disaster risk reduction and preparedness, community health promotion, emergency healthcare, and first aid, especially to displaced and vulnerable populations. These resources also promote a proactive and empowered approach toward healthcare and safety through education, community engagement, and accountability. (Choudhary, 2021). In this assessment one of these resource systems, The American Red Cross will be discussed regarding the mission and vision of the organization, efforts to promote equal opportunities for healthcare resources, impact of funding and policies, and overall effect on public health and safety.

Mission and Vision of the Organization

Organizations such as the Red Cross America are auxiliary to public authorities to provide consistent humanitarian care. They employ a team of community-based volunteers and staff that provide services for emergency preparedness and disaster management, first aid delivery and training, maintaining 40% of national blood supply resources, and supporting military communities (American Red Cross, 2023d). It operates on the fundamental principles of humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity, and universality (American Red Cross, 2023b). The mission statement is to alleviate human suffering, protect life and health, and uphold human dignity, especially during armed conflicts and other emergencies (Purdy, 2019). The vision statement explains that The American Red Cross uses a strong network of volunteers, donors, and partners to turn compassion into action so that all the people affected by disasters across the country receive care and shelter. The ARC ensures that everyone has access to life-saving blood products, communities are prepared for a disaster, and armed service members and their families are supported (Hassan, 2019).

The American Red Cross establishes and supports initiatives nationwide and globally to continue the agenda of public healthcare and safety without discrimination. The American Red Cross works with community partners to form a diverse program of blood donors which is critical to ensure life-saving blood products are available to 1 in every 7 hospital patients across America who need a transfusion (American Red Cross, 2023e). The American Red Cross (ARC) also launched the “until help arrives initiative” which provides online training courses to tackle opioid overdoses, severe bleeding, cardiac arrest, and choking emergencies, and “Smart Sports Coalition” to reduce tragedies among student-athletes by providing Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) courses and Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs). The TRC volunteers delivered emergency messages for more than 87,000 deployed service members to connect them to their families and raise morale (Ohio, 2023). Furthermore, The Red Cross provides food, shelter, and medical supplies to displaced and disaster-stricken communities and warzones around the world such as Africa, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Ukraine, Gaza, and Syria.

The American Red Cross promotes the principles of humanity, impartiality, and neutrality that sum up to establishing support and care for all human life and alleviating suffering wherever it is found. It serves human beings regardless of background, ethnicity, and socioeconomic class. It provides refuge and asylum to migrants of all backgrounds during domestic disasters by providing basic provisions, reuniting families, and supporting other non-government or government agencies. The blood donation services operated by the ARC give life to all patients in critical need of blood products. The ARC provides life-saving training and education to support community health (American Red Cross, 2023f). these operating principles and services empower the community and lay the foundation for selfless, universal, and uninterrupted humanitarian action.

Social and Cultural Barriers

The humanitarian efforts of the ARC can be hindered by sociocultural barriers in the population receiving services. One of these barriers may be language which makes access and utilization of resources provided by the ARC difficult for ethnic and non-English speaking communities (Garza, 2023). Similarly, insensitivity towards religion and cultural beliefs and practices can lead to mistrust, refusal of aid, emotional toll on top of physical calamities, and violation of public health and safety orders that endanger whole communities in ARC disaster response programs (Aspen, 2020). According to Yu and Writer (2021), the “Diversity Calls” initiative by Red Cross vol