ARMED FORCES EMERGENCY SERVICES

 

Emergency Communication Services

American Red Cross communication services keep military personnel in touch with their families following the death or serious illness of a family member or other important events, such as the birth of a child. The Red Cross quickly sends these communications on behalf of the family to members of the U.S. Armed Forces serving anywhere in the world, including ships at sea, embassies and isolated military units. The information or verification in a message assists the service member's commanding officer with making a decision regarding emergency leave.

How to Contact the Red Cross to Send an Emergency Message

Active duty service members stationed in the United States and their immediate family members may call the Red Cross Armed Forces Emergency Service Centers for help 7 days a week, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The toll-free telephone number is available through base or installation operators and from local on-base Red Cross offices.

Other family members who do not reside in the service members' household, members of the National Guard and Reserves, retirees and civilians may access Red Cross services through the local Allegheny Region Chapter offices . Please do not email emergency message requests to the Chapter-please use the office telephone numbers, which are staffed 24 hours a day.

Overseas personnel stationed on military installations should call base or installation operators or the on-base Red Cross offices. At overseas deployment sites, contact the American Red Cross deployed staff.

When calling the Red Cross to send an emergency message to a family member, it is helpful to have the following information on the Service member:

Full Name (including middle initial)
Rank/Rating
Branch of Service
Social Security Number
Date of Birth
Military Address
Information about the deployed unit and the home base unit (for deployed service members only)

The Red Cross Caseworker needs to verify emergencies when requesting a message to be sent. We will need to contact a doctor, nurse, or funeral home which may be working with your family, depending on the emergency. You can help us by notifying the medical or funeral professionals working your family in advance that the American Red Cross may be contacting them regarding an emergency communication for a service member.

 PLEASE CALL THIS NUMBER FOR ANY TYPE OF ASSISTANCE/EMERGENCY MESSAGES :

                      SAF - 1-877-272-7337