Written by Kaye S.

Emergency Messages via Red Cross

SPECIAL MESSAGES

If an emergency occurs within a sailor's family, which warrants the sailor being told and considered for Emergency Leave, the American Red Cross must be notified FIRST.  This can be done through their national headquarters in Washington, DC (1-877-272-7337) or via their website www.redcross.org.

Circumstances falling in this category include critical injury or illness, birth, and death.  The Red Cross requires two types of information to send Special Messages:

1)      Service member Identification – Use the Red Cross Notification Form (link) to keep this information at hand.  It includes the sailor’s complete identifying information such as name, Social Security Number, the unit, ship or boat, etc. 

2)      Situation Information – Use the Special Message Forms (link) (or found below) to have this information when you contact the Red Cross.  It includes the facts of a situation, so the Red Cross can verify the emergency and a complete picture can be conveyed to the sailor.

Even though it may go against what our emotions will be telling us to do, DON'T TRY TO SEND EMERGENCY NEWS DIRECTLY TO A SAILOR.  It's important that serious or upsetting news be delivered in a calm, professional manner, by those who can immediately tell a sailor what his/her options are, and then help make those arrangements.  These protocols exist to protect the sailor and shipmates.

Emergency Leave permission depends on the recommendation of the Red Cross, the current operational commitment of the ship, and the availability of adequate transportation.  The key point to identify to the Red Cross is why the serviceman’s presence is needed.  Commands will take no action on Emergency Leave without a Red Cross report of a situation.

Special Messages are normally sent only when the situation involves a member of the immediate family of the sailor or sailor’s spouse.  These are defined in the Naval Military Personnel Manual as father, mother, person standing in loco parentis (i.e. person who raised the sailor), spouse, children, brother, sister, or only living relative.

Situation Information Forms

The following information is generally required for Special Messages pertaining to births, deaths, and serious illness/injury:

BIRTH

Who is calling: ____________________Relation: _____________Phone number: ___________

To whom is message being sent: _______________­­­­­­­­­___________________________________

Service member attached to:  full name of boat & crew color

Wife’s name: ___________________________________________________________________

Baby’s Name: ____________________   Baby’s Sex:  M / F   Baby’s Weight:  ____lbs. ___ oz.

Baby’s Length: ______________   Hair Color: _________   Eye Color: ___________

Time of Birth: _________   Date of Birth: _____________   Place of Birth: _________________

Hospital Phone Number: _________________   Information Verified With: _________________

Condition of Baby (Good, unless medical complications):_______________________________

Condition of Mother (Good, unless medical complications): _____________________________

 
DEATH
 

Who is calling: ____________________Relation: _____________Phone number: ___________

To whom is message being sent: _______________­­­­­­­­­___________________________________

Service member attached to:  full name of boat & crew color

Name of deceased: _________________________________________________   Age: ______

Relationship of deceased to service member: ________________________________________

Place of death (city/state):________________________________________________________

Hospital taken to: __________________________   Hospital phone number: _______________

Date/Time of death: ________________________   Cause of death: ______________________

Date of funeral: ______________   Funeral Home: _________________   Phone: ___________

Burial to take place at: ______________________________   Date of burial: _______________

Immediate family in area (support available): _________________________________________

Relationship: __________________________________________________________________

SERIOUS ILLNESS / INJURY
 

Who is calling: ____________________Relation: _____________Phone number: ___________

To whom is message being sent: _______________­­­­­­­­­___________________________________

Service member attached to:  full name of boat & crew color

Name of patient: ___________________________________________________   Age: ______

Relationship of patient to service member: __________________________________________

Has the patient or the patient’s next of kin authorized release of info to the member:  yes / no

Place of illness (location of hospital or other): _________________ Phone number: _________

Name of doctor: _________________________ Phone number: _________________________

Condition: ______________________________ Prognosis: ____________________________

Hospital admission time and date: _________________________________________________

Expected length of hospitalization: ________________________________________________

If this message concerns a service member’s wife, indicate who is caring for children, if any.