Italian Red Cross

CRI emergency vehicle

Red Cross Monument in Solferino

The Italian Red Cross , Italian Croce Rossa Italiana (CRI), is an aid organization based primarily on the work of volunteers and, as the national Red Cross Society of Italy , part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement . The organization is based in Rome .

history

It was founded on June 15, 1864, two months before the Geneva Conventions were signed , as the "Italian Society for the Rescue of Wounded and Sick in War" in Milan . It is one of the oldest Red Cross societies in the world. The Italian Red Cross has had its seat in Rome since 1872 and has been officially recognized since 1884. In 1919 it was among the founding members of what is now the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies .

organization

It is under the patronage of the Italian President and is supervised by the Italian government. Subordinate to the Central Committee in Rome are committees (associations) at the level of the regions and provinces and the local committees. At all four levels there is a president or chairman, a board of directors and an assembly. There are several sub-organizations, including a military department, which takes on medical tasks within the armed forces and thus continues the original traditions and tasks of the Red Cross. There is also a youth organization (“pioneers”). A total of around 150,000 voluntary members are active in the Italian Red Cross.

activities

Employees of the military organization of the CRI

The organization is primarily active in the emergency medical service and works closely with the health services of the Italian regions and other public, private, regional and local non-profit organizations. The emergency number is 118. In addition, it is an important part of the Italian civil defense ( civil protection ). It also offers numerous social services and is active in the field of international aid.

See also

• White Cross in South Tyrol
• Fire department in Italy
• Corpo Nazionale Soccorso Alpino e Speleologico
• Società Nazionale di Salvamento
• Air rescue in Italy
• List of national Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies

literature

• International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies: Directory of National Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. ( PDF version, approx. 260KB )

Web links

Commons : Italian Red Cross  - collection of images, videos and audio files

• Croce Rossa Italiana website (Italian)