Emergency Messages via Red Cross
SPECIAL MESSAGES
In the event of an emergency within the sailor’s family, where you feel the sailor must be notified and considered for Emergency Leave, you must notify the American Red Cross through the national headquarters in Washington, DC (1-877-272-7337) or via their website www.redcross.org.
You can now also get a message to your Sailor by clicking this link.
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 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 Messages 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 SUBMARINER. All messages are reviewed for just this kind of content. Any information which is considered upsetting or harmful will not be given to the sailor. The command will wait until official notification comes from the Red Cross and then use protocols for handling it.
On a sub, it's easier for one person to jeopardize the entire crew, so keeping morale safe is paramount. Email privileges can be taken from an entire boat because one relative abuses them. Please handle things through the proper channels.
Granting of Emergency Leave 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 can 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.
You can now also get a message to your Sailor by clicking this link.
Replies
The American Red Cross Emergency Communications Center is available 7 days a week, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, with two options for requesting assistance, online and by phone.
Click for more information: http://www.redcross.org/emergencycommunication