Here is the contact number 24/7:
Call (877) 272-7337
There may come a time that you need to contact your military member regarding an emergency. For Military & Red Cross purpose an emergency is for Life & Death situations or in an event of a National or Local Natural Disaster. Please note: the American Red Cross does not authorize nor pay for emergency leave.
The American Red Cross provides a verified notification to those serving in the military and their chain of command. It is used to provide a proper notification both to the military member with appropriate support and is required for a trainee or airman to get emergency leave approved. This is true for BMT, Tech School and Operational Airmen.
As each case has unique circumstances, If you are trying to navigate the notification process, please contact an admin and we can walk you through it.
http://www.redcross.org/find-help/military-families
In the Air Force Regulation, emergency leave is used to visit a terminally ill person in the immediate family of either the member or the member's spouse. And may be authorized to attend the funeral of immediate family.
Immediate family consists of the member's or spouse's:
(1) Parents (including stepparents)
(2) Children (including illegitimate children and stepchildren)
(3) Brothers and sisters
(4) Sole surviving blood relative.
(5) In-loco-parentis person. In-loco-parentis must meet both of the following conditions:
1. A person who stood in place of the member’s parent for a period of at least 5 years before the member became 21 years of age or entered military service.
2. The person provided a home, food, clothing, medical care, and other necessities, and gave moral, disciplinary guidance, and affection.
Note: Require member to sign a statement attesting to a person's in-loco-parentis status.
A person is not in-loco-parentis if he or she baby-sat, provided day care services, or gave financial help such as a home where the parent also lived. A grandparent or other person normally is not in-loco-parentis when the parent also lived at the same residence
BIRTH:
If you are calling to advise of a birth, that is absolutely wonderful.
If the child is born while the father is at BMT or Tech School, the father will NOT be allowed to go home unless the child or spouse's life is in danger. If there is a need for him to go home, the ARC will need to verify this information with the doctor and/or hospital and will relay the information to the Air Force thru the proper channels. The AF will NOT pay for his transportation. He may also be recycled or washed back to make up the missed time & training. If there are no complications, he may be able to have extra authorized calls home
DEATH:
The Death notification can include the request that a chaplain be present as well as the direct chain of command.
In BMT and Tech School:
- Their squadron will get the verified notification and brings the trainee or tech school airman into their office to call you. This will ensure that they will have support they need when they get the news.
- Approval to travel home is usually granted only for immediate family members such as parent, spouse, or child. Grandparents, aunts & uncles, extended family or close personal friend, boyfriend/girlfriend unfortunately are not considered immediate family.
For Operational Airmen: your airman may request that you do a Red Cross notification so their chain of command knows it is a verified death.
DISASTER:
In the event of a disaster, the base personnel are notified of the information. There may be a chance that your loved one will be able to call. Since landlines or cellular networks may not be working, please make sure that you have an alternate number for them to call. Even if it's an out of state relative, just to make sure you are ok.
How to Contact the Red Cross for Assistance
Call (877) 272-7337 (toll-free within the continental United States). Be ready with the following information prior to making the call:
There are two sets of information required for a notification. They need your trainee or airman’s full information as well as the hospital/ hospice/funeral home information to verify:
Full name Rank/rating
Branch of service (Army,
Navy, Air Force, Marines,
Coast Guard or DoD Civilian
or contractor)
Social Security Number
Date of Birth
Military address (not their personal address)
– this would include Base and Squadron information
For deployed service members only: Information about the deployed unit and home base unit.
Information Needed for Verification: They are also going to need the full name of the patient (or deceased), phone number for the hospital, hospice or funeral home and If possible, the name of a contact person to verify the situation..