Red Cross Emergency Response Role in Airplane Crash Plans
This paper outlines the American Red Cross's role as a non-governmental entity within a formal emergency response plan for a large passenger airplane crash. Drawing on FEMA's National Readiness Report and established crisis communication frameworks, the paper identifies two primary functions: on-site medical evaluation and first responder patient assistance, carried out alongside local paramedics within the Joint Field Office structure; and post-incident debriefing of first responders using the multiple stressor debriefing model. The paper emphasizes that clear pre-defined roles for the Red Cross enable faster, more effective disaster response and help mitigate post-traumatic stress among emergency personnel.
- Introduction: The Red Cross in Emergency Planning: Red Cross authority, track record, and paper scope
- First Responder Patient Assistance: On-site medical roles and counseling functions
- First Responder Debriefing: Post-incident debriefing model for emergency personnel
- Conclusion: Summary of Red Cross roles and on-site deployment
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What makes this paper effective
- The paper establishes a clear organizational hierarchy by specifying that Red Cross volunteers report directly to the enlisted paramedic response person within the Joint Field Office, grounding abstract roles in concrete operational structure.
- It addresses both victim welfare and responder welfare, broadening the scope beyond typical disaster-response papers and demonstrating awareness of the full human cost of emergency events.
- Citations from peer-reviewed journals (Armstrong et al., Reynolds & Seeger) and official FEMA documentation lend credibility and show appropriate use of diverse source types.
Key academic technique demonstrated
The paper uses a two-part organizational framework — primary role and secondary role — to structure its argument. This technique allows the writer to assign discrete, non-overlapping responsibilities to a single entity, making the response plan both readable and operationally logical. Each role is supported by at least one cited source, demonstrating how analytical structure and evidence can work together efficiently even in a short paper.
Structure breakdown
The paper opens with context drawn from FEMA's National Readiness Report to establish the Red Cross's authority and track record. It then moves sequentially through two defined roles — medical assistance and debriefing — each treated as a separate section with its own evidentiary support. A brief conclusion ties both roles together and returns to the operational setting (the Joint Field Office). The Works Cited follows MLA-adjacent formatting with journal volume and issue numbers included.
Introduction: The Red Cross in Emergency Planning
FEMA makes it very clear in their National Readiness Report that the Red Cross plays a critical role in assisting communities during a disaster. Not only are funds donated and distributed to aid families, but the Red Cross further assists by providing medical care, food, clothing, and housing to disaster victims. Even during some of the greatest disasters — including September 11th and several of the most recent destructive earthquakes — the Red Cross has been permitted to step in and aid victims far more quickly than the government ever could have. It is because of this response time and quality that the Red Cross has received its high level of clearance for responding to emergencies.
This paper details the Red Cross's role in dealing with a large passenger airplane crash and their place within the emergency response team. The two primary areas where the Red Cross becomes critical in such an emergency are first responder patient assistance and patient and volunteer debriefing.
First Responder Patient Assistance
Emergencies are random, but can still be planned and prepared for in advance. While airline crashes are exceedingly rare, it is vital that the Red Cross's roles be clearly defined and outlined within the emergency response framework to ensure that everything runs smoothly and that the greatest number of victims possible are saved. The primary role of the Red Cross at the scene of a crash will be medical evaluation and first responder patient assistance. Red Cross doctor and nurse volunteers are to work side-by-side with local paramedics to ensure patients are evaluated and transported to the nearest hospital in a timely fashion (Private Sector Guide, 3).
Red Cross volunteers will report directly to the enlisted paramedic response person and will take orders from this person within the Joint Field Office. Along with the medical volunteers, the Red Cross may provide counseling services to offer empathy and reassurance to the victims (Reynolds, 2007). This role is equally critical for those victims with minor injuries that can be treated on site, in order to avoid shock (Reynolds).
Conclusion
The Red Cross is an invaluable tool within the emergency plan both for mass casualty aid and for the debriefing of personnel. Red Cross volunteers will be greeted on-site and sent directly to the Joint Field Office for instructions.
Works Cited
Armstrong, K., O'Callahan, W., & Marmar, C. (1991). Debriefing Red Cross disaster personnel: The multiple stressor debriefing method. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 4(4): 581–93.
Private Sector Partner Guide. FEMA. Updated February 2010. Accessed May 14, 2012 at
Reynolds, Barbara & Seeger, Matthew (2005). Crisis and emergency risk communication as an integrative model. Journal of Health Communications: Internal Perspectives, 10(1): 43–55.
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