WE ARE THE SCIENTIFIC
ADVISORY COUNCIL

Behind every American Red Cross training program stands the
Scientific Advisory Council - a team of experts dedicated to ensuring that what you learn is based on the latest and best emergency science.

WE ARE A

50+

member panel of nationally recognized medical, scientific, aquatics, and academic experts from across the country.

map-w-gradient

OUR

EXPERTISE

is the reason individuals, corporations, aquatics professionals, emergency responders and healthcare providers and professionals choose the American Red Cross for their training needs.

The Scientific Advisory Council

LEARN

MORE

ARC_TS_Icon_Work

How We Work

ARC_TS_Icon_Members

Members

ARC_TS_Icon_Sub-Council

Sub-Councils

ARC_TS_Icon_Scientific-Review

Scientific Reviews

ARC_TS_Icon_Research

Recent Research

ARC_TS_Icon_Media

In The Media

RESOURCE

CENTER

female researcher

+

ROOTED IN SCIENCE

our team of nationally recognized experts studies the latest evidence-based data to create training programs to help save lives.

Create your classroom

using resources provided in the Instructor's Corner, and set your students up for success.

Want more

on the science, standards, and regulations behind our programs?

read-latest-proceedings

Read the latest from our most recent proceedings.

Become a Red Cross Instructor

Find a class near you
female looking at graphs on sheet of paper

+

MORE
THAN 50

nationally recognized experts in emergency medicine, aquatics, occupational health, sports medicine, school health, healthcare and EMS response, disaster health and emergency preparedness study the latest proven science - which is the basis for all of our classes and recommendations.

Access the insights

from the American Red Cross Scientific Advisory Council, on everything from heat-related illness to acute coronary syndrome.

Want more

on the science, standards, and regulations behind our programs?

read-latest-proceedings

Read the latest from our most recent proceedings

Contact the Scientific Advisory Council

Contact us
close up of SAC council

+

THE SCIENTIFIC ADVISORY COUNCIL

has been developing expert training for medical professionals, first responders, and citizens for 20 years. We can help you find vetted, reliable information your readers, viewers and listeners can count on.

Question:

What's the difference between a heart attack and cardiac arrest?

Answer:

ARC_TS_Icon_Heart-Attack

A heart attack occurs

when blood flow to part of the heart muscle is blocked, causing part of the heart muscle to die.

Cardiac arrest occurs

when the heart stops beating or beats too ineffectively to circulate blood to the brain and other vital organs.

ARC_TS_Icon_Cardiac-Arrest

The American Red Cross Scientific Advisory Council is comprised of doctors, scientists, medical professionals and industry experts who can provide insight and information on natural disaster scenarios, health-related data and more.

Click on the name of the sub-council for information on how to contact an expert.

For media inquiries, please call Red Cross:

202-303-5551

or email us: media@redcross.org

woman holding mannequin

+

WHEN EVERY MOMENT COUNTS

you can be the difference between life and death. Take a class and learn how to provide care when it's needed most.

Find a class near you

Get the help you need to
help those in need.

Be ready at a
moment's notice
using the Emergency
First Aid App.

RESOURCE

CENTER

female researcher

+

ROOTED IN SCIENCE

our team of nationally recognized experts studies the latest evidence-based data to create training programs to help save lives.

Create your classroom

using resources provided in the Instructor's Corner, and set your students up for success

Want more

on the science, standards, and regulations behind our programs?

read-latest-proceedings

Read the latest from our most recent proceedings

female looking at graphs on sheet of paper

+

MORE THAN 50

nationally recognized experts in emergency medicine, aquatics, occupational health, sports medicine, school health, healthcare and EMS response, disaster health and emergency preparedness study the latest proven science - which is the basis for all of our classes and recommendations.

Access the insights

from the American Red Cross Scientific Advisory Council, on everything from heat-related illness to acute coronary syndrome.

Want more

on the science, standards, and regulations behind our programs?

read-latest-proceedings

Read the latest from our most recent proceedings

close up of SAC council

+

THE SCIENTIFIC ADVISORY COUNCIL

has been developing expert training for medical professionals, first responders, and citizens for 20 years. We can help you find vetted, reliable information your readers, viewers and listeners can count on.

Question:

What's the difference between a heart attack and cardiac arrest?

Answer:

cardiac-arrest-occurs

A heart attack occurs

when blood flow to part of the heart muscle is blocked, causing part of the heart muscle to die.

cardiac-arrest-occurs

Cardiac arrest occurs

when the heart stops beating or beats too ineffectively to circulate blood to the brain and other vital organs.

The American Red Cross Scientific Advisory Council is comprised of doctors, scientists, medical professionals and industry experts who can provide insight and information on natural disaster scenarios, health-related data and more.

Click on the name of the sub-council for information on how to contact an expert.

For media inquiries, please call Red Cross:

202-303-5551

or email us: media@redcross.org

woman holding mannequin

+

WHEN EVERY MOMENT COUNTS

you can be the difference between life and death. Take a class and learn how to provide care when its needed most.

Find a class near you

Get the help you need to help those in need.

Be ready at a moment's notice using the Emergency First Aid App.

EXPERT

INSIGHTS

Aquatics

Joint Statement from the Red Cross, USA Swimming and the YMCA on Hypoxic Blackout and Shallow Water Blackout Terminology
Joint Statement from the Red Cross, USA Swimming and the YMCA on Hypoxic Blackout and Shallow Water Blackout Terminology

It is our goal to educate the public about the risks of hypoxia in the water and help ensure that those we teach do not engage in behavior that could result in loss of consciousness and death. Read More

Aquatics

A lifeguard sitting in a chair watching swimmers in a pool.
Red Cross Scientific Advisory Council Statement National Aquatic Staff Shortage

The Red Cross Scientific Advisory Council fully recognizes the challenges that aquatic facilities are facing with staffing shortages. The following statement provides some context, best practices and potential solutions for those delivering aquatic services. Read More

Resuscitation

The Evidence Behind the American Red Cross Focused Updates and Guidelines 2022 - (PDF)
The Evidence Behind the American Red Cross Focused Updates and Guidelines 2022 - (PDF)

Learn about the new 2022 focused updates that summarizes results of the scientific evidence evaluations and guideline reviews overseen by the American Red Cross Scientific Advisory Council. Red Cross Guidelines include recommended actions for healthcare professionals and emergency responders, as appropriate. Topics include Basic Life Support, Advanced Life Support, Pediatric Advanced Life Support, Neonatal Life Support and Education Read More

Resuscitation

rip-currents
The Evidence Behind the American Red Cross Focused Updates and Guidelines 2021

Watch this video with Dr. Nici Singletary, co-chair of the American Red Cross Scientific Advisory Council, discuss the key highlights of the recent release of the American Red Cross Focused Updates and Guidelines 2021. The cornerstone of this guidance is based on a broad spectrum of the latest evidentiary science. Topics covered include Basic Life Support, Advanced Life Support, Pediatric Advanced Life Support, Neonatal Life Support and education. Watch Now

Preparedness

rip-currents
Closing the Gaps: Advancing Disaster Preparedness, Response and Recovery for Older Adults

In partnership with the American Academy of Nursing, attached is an informative SAC white paper with specific recommendations to improve disaster preparedness, response and recovery for older adults... Read More

Aquatics

rip-currents
Rip Currents - What Lies Beneath

by Dr. Peter G. Wernicki

As Hurricane Crisobal moves slowly up the Atlantic and Hurricane Marie tears through the Pacific, they are bringing high surf to vacation spots along both coasts and tempting surfers and adventurous swimmers to run headlong into the beckoning waves... Read More

VIDEOS

Watch as experts from the American Red Cross share their tips for surviving natural disasters, staying safe outdoors, caring for children, and helping those who are injured or ill.

FREQUENTLY ASKED

QUESTIONS

For those interested in submitting a question to the Scientific Advisory Council, please contact the American Red Cross.

The Scientific Advisory Council meets throughout the year. You can easily view the latest research, located within the Resource Center on this page. To access this content, you can go directly to this content above. If there is a specific topic that you do not see, you can submit a question here

American Red Cross Scientific Advisory Council members are volunteers who serve on a SAC Sub-Council focusing on training content research, such as First Aid, Aquatics, Resuscitation, Education and Disaster/Preparedness. Each year American Red Cross SAC chairs evaluate appointments and retirements of the SAC Members. They look for people who are particularly active within their field, including academic or practical involvement within their medical field at the local state or regional level. Membership selection is based on an interview and whether a member with a specific knowledge and expertise is needed. For those who share in a passion for science, are active in research or clinical work and are interested in becoming a SAC panel member volunteer, please contact the American Red Cross.

You can also volunteer at the local Red Cross chapter level. You can learn more at help.

WHO WE WORK WITH

Over the last 20 years, the Scientific Advisory Council has worked with organizations far and wide. And while they number into the thousands, there are a select few that we communicate with again and again - and we think you might also like to get to know them too.

international-federation
canadian-red-cross
british-red-cross
cardiac-arrest-registry
ijfae
ijfae
diversity
ijfae
ny-medical-college
usa-swimming