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RESOURCE CENTER
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.
member panel of nationally recognized medical, scientific, aquatics, and academic experts from across the country.
is the reason individuals, corporations, aquatics professionals, emergency responders and healthcare providers and professionals choose the American Red Cross for their training needs.
Every recommendation from the Scientific Advisory Council originates from one of five subcouncils, where the experts take a deep dive into the science behind the latest research.
Covering everything from water safety, to swim instruction and lifeguarding, this sub-council is all about preventing water emergencies, and providing the best teaching, rescue, resuscitation and transport techniques possible to aquatics professionals.
Two sub-councils exist for Resuscitation: Adult and Pediatric Neonatal. In addition to the study of Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and choking, this sub-council also assesses defribrillation and the best use of Automated External Defribrillators(AEDs).
Studying the emergency medical care of victims before they get to a hospital, this sub-council assesses the training of bystanders and professional emergency responders, whether they're administering aid on land, near water or in remote areas.
Covering the best ways to prepare for emergencies of every kind, from those that occur in the home to the regional disasters, this sub-council studies how to train people to be more resilient after hardship as well as how to keep communities whole and businesses operating. It also addresses how to give acute and chronic medical and mental care to disaster victims and the emergency staff caring for them.
The Education sub-council engages members of every other sub-council to identify effective methods for teaching the skills and procedures of Red Cross courses to individuals, corporations, and professionals. It also seeks the best ways to help people gain the confidence and desire to step forward and use those skills to provide life-saving care when it's needed most.
Every American Red Cross program is developed to adhere to relevant industry standards and guidelines and is based on emergency care research from around the globe.
First Aid Guidelines Database
Healthcare Guidelines Database
Aquatics Guidelines and Best Practices
CPR Skill Retention
Heat Related Illnesses
Water Rescue Equipment
Drowning and Abdominal Thrusts
In Water Resuscitation Equipment
Jellyfish Stings
Critical Incident Stress Debriefing (CISD)
Minimum Age for Swimming Lessons
Voluntary Hyperventilation Preceding Underwater Swim(Hypoxic Blackout)
Water Temperature for Aquatics
Hand Hygiene
Burn Cooling
Compression Only CPR
Traumatic Brain Injury Osmotic Agents
Hemostatic Agent
Hyperthermia
Pediatric Tourniquet Use
Follow us on our Science Twitter/X feed @RedCrossScience to learn about our scientific and academic news.
Helping others prevent and prepare for disasters of every size - from household accidents to regional events - is what we do.
May, 2020 | EMS Week 2020: Keep On Keeping On
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May 15, 2020 | Dear Grandma, read this before you visit the little ones
May 5, 2020 | Drownings still occur during quarantine; here's how to get prepared
April 19, 2020 | Coronavirus emergency kit: What you need to survive the pandemic
February 23, 2020 | Is it dangerous to eat right before you swim?
August 29, 2019 | Red Cross Stresses Network Support as Key to Emergency Preparedness
See More Media Mentions
June 11 2018 | There's no such thing as dry drowning, doctors say: 'This whole thing has totally been over-hyped'
September 2017 | When should a First-Aid Prodivider Stop CPR: Answer from the American Red Cross Scientific Advisory Council
August 15, 2017 | American Red Cross Now Incorporating Tourniquets Into Training
By using rigorous review and the most reliable evidence-based sources, the Advisory Council's work helps increase safety and save lives. Here's how we work:
Sub-council members gather research from around the world.
Experts within the group study the data, evidence, and the science behind the research.
Sub-councils meet continuously to debate and discuss the evidence to decide how, if at all, the information should change their guidelines and Red Cross safety training materials.
Sub-Council recommendations are presented to the full Scientific Advisory Council to discuss, debate, and ratify as appropriate.
Educational materials are updated and changes are communicated to Red Cross instructors and may be shared with the public and media.
Sub-councils meet contuniously to debate and discuss the evidence to decide how, if at all, the information should change their guidelines and Red Cross safety training materials.
Our medical, scientific, and academic Advisory Council experts are at the vanguard of the best science – so you can protect yourself, and others, and provide help when it's needed most.
Joseph W. Rossano
Chair
MD, MS, FAAP, FACC
Pediatric cardiologist and Chief of the Division of Cardiology Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and Professor, University of Pennsylvania
Nathan P. Charlton
Vice Chair
MD
Professor of Emergency Medicine, University of Virginia Health System
ILCOR Task Force Member
Nici Singletary
Past Chair
MD, FACEP
Professor, Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Virginia
William D. Ramos
MS, PhD
Sub Council Chair, AquaticsSAC Nomination Committee
Assistant Professor, Indiana University
Shaun M. Anderson
MBA, ED.D
Associate Professor, Norfolk State Dept. of Health
Angela K. Beale-Tawfeeq
PhD, MPH
Associate Professor, Program Coordinator, Rowan University
Maria Bella
AFOIT, CPOI
Researcher, Aqua Conscience, LLC
Jodi Jensen
PhD
Assistant Professor Director of Aquatics Hampton University
Stephen J. Langendorfer
Sub Council Vice Chair, Aquatics
Professor Emeritus; Editor, International Journal of Aquatic Research and Education Bowling Green State University
Michelle Macy
MD, MS
Professor of Pediatrics, Scientific Director, Community, Population Health and Outcomes, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago; Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
Linda Quan
MD, FAAP
Senior Advisor, Aquatics
Professor, Pediatrics, University of Washington School of Medicine
Rohit P. Shenoi
Professor of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine
Brenda Ward
MS
Senior Lecture, University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Peter G. Wernicki
MD, FAAOS
Orthopedic Surgeon, Pro Sports
Christopher Whipple
M.Ed., NREMT, AqP
Registered Nurse - Emergency Department, President, Whipple Aquatics & Safety
Bryan M. White
MD, FACC, FASE, RPVI
Sub Council Chair, Adult Resuscitation
Physician, Cardiovascular Disease, Adventist HealthCare, Col, USAF, MC
Heatherlee Bailey
MD, FAAEM, FCCM
Sub Council Vice Chair, Adult Resuscitation
Emergency Medicine Physician, Durham VA Medical Center
Colonel Richard N. Bradley
MD, FACEP, FAEMS
Medical Group Commander, 147th Attack Wing, Texas Air National Guard, Professor of Emergency Medicine and Chief of the Division of Emergency Medical Services and Disaster Medicine, at the McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Medical (Houston)
Justin Hunter
PhD, NRP, FP-C
Associate Professor, Oklahoma State University–Oklahoma City, TheDoctorMedic.com
Wendell E. Jones
MD, MBA, CPE, FACP
Network Officer, VISN 17
Elizabeth Kadow
Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine, Brown University
Catherine Margaret Kuza
Associate Professor, Anesthesiology and Critical Care Quality, Harbor-UCLA
Anthony T. Lagina III
Associate Professor, Wayne State University
Bryan F. McNally
MD, MPH
CARES Executive Director, Professor, Emergency Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine
Allen Wolfe, Jr
MSN, CNS, APRN, CFRN, CCRN, CTRN, TCRN, CMTE, FAASTN
Senior Director of Education, Life Link III
Bruce J. Barnhart
MSN, RN, CEP
Sub Council Chair, Pediatric Neonatal Resusciation
Senior Manager, Univ. of Arizona Medical Research Ctr.
Brian Appavu
Pediatric Neurologist, HonorHealth Neurology-Bob Bové Neuroscience Institute
Julie L. Bacon
MSN-HCSM, NEBC, NPD-BC, CPN, CPEN, CNPT
Chief Flight Nurse, John Hopkins All Children’s Lifeline
Alison Chapman
Associate Professor of Pediatrics; Medical Director Stabilization Unit, Milk Bank, Medical University of South Carolina
Sarita A. Chung
Professor Pediatrics and Emergency Medicine, Harvard Medical School
Sarah Copple
MSN, RNC-MNN, C-ONQS
Director, Perinatal Programs, AWHONN
Jacqueline Corboy
Sub Council Vice Chair, Pediatric Neonatal Resusciation
Associate Professor Medical Staff, Children's Hospital of Chicago
Iqbal El-Assaad
Pediatric Electrophysiologist, Cleveland Clinic Children’s Hospital
Alla Kushnir
Associate Professor of Pediatrics, Cooper Medical School of Rowan University and Cooper University Health Care
Joyce Li
Director of Community ED, Outreach, Boston Children’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School
Stephen R. Pratt
Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine (retired)
Elizabeth Hewett Brumberg
Sub Council Chair, First Aid
Assistant Professor of Pediatrics University of Pittsburgh
David Berry
PhD, MHA, AT, ATC, ATRIC, CKTP, GT Certified
Professor & Department Chair, Kinesiology College of Health and Human Services, Saginaw Valley State University
Jestin Carlson
MD, MS, FACEP, National Director of Clinical Education
National Director of Clinical Education US Acute Care Solutions
Deanna Colburn Hostler
DPT, PhD, CCS
Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Rehabilitation Sciences University of Buffalo
Craig Goolsby
MD, MEd, FACEP, MHCDS
Chair, Department of Emergency Medicine Harbor-UCLA Medical Center
Amy Kule
Sub Council Vice Chair, First Aid
Professor, Loyola University Medical Center
Aaron M. Orkin
MD, MSc, MPH, PhD, CCFP(EM), FRCPC
Associate Professor, University of Toronto; Emergency Physician
Canadian Red Cross Volunteer
S. Robert Seitz
MEd, RN, NRP
Senior Advisor, First Aid
Retired Director, Clinical Education, University of Pittsburgh Center for Emergency Medicine
Jeffrey S. Upperman
Professor and Chair Division of Pediatric Surgery, Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt
Logan Pasquariello
Emerging Scholar Fellow
Junior, Vanderbilt University
Michael Kleeman
MA
Sub Council Chair, Disaster Cycle
Scientific Advisory Council Nomination Committee
Senior Research Fellow, UC San Diego
Michael Carr
Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine
Robert J. Lempert
Principal Researcher, RAND
Raj Pandya
Sub Council Vice Chair, Disaster Cycle
Professor of Practice/Executive Director Arizona State University
Jeffrey L. Pellegrino
PhD, MPH, EMT-B/FF, EMS-I
Assistant Professor & Chair, Dept. of Emergency Management & Homeland Security, University of Akron
Mark Schuster
Founding Dean and CEO Emeritus, Kaiser Permanente Bernard J. Tyson School of Medicine
Samir K. Sinha
MD, DPhil, FRCPC, AGSF
Director of Geriatrics, Sinai Health Systems and University Health Network
Hannaford Bush
Aquatics and Safety Training Program Manager, UC San Diego Recreation, Impact
Thomas E. Sather
Ed.D, MS, MSS, CAsP
CDR, MSC, USN
Sub Council Chair, Education
Director, Tactical Combat Casualty Care Program Naval Medical Forces Development Command
Nicholas Asselin
DO, MS
Sub Council Vice Chair, Education
Associate Professor, Department of Emergency Medicine, Division of EMS, Brown University
Rita V. Burke
Associate Professor, University of Southern California, Keck School of Medicine
Thomas Newman
PhD, LAT, ATC, AIBVRC
Assistant Professor, Clinical Education Coordinator, James Madison University
Gamze Ozogul
Associate Professor, Indiana University, School of Education
Margaret K. Sande
MD, MS, MSHPEd
Associate Professor; Associate Chief Medical Officer for Quality & Safety Clinical Director, Biomedical Engineering Master’s Program, University of Virginia
John Yosaitis
MD, MBA
Medical Director, MedStar Institute for Innovation, Georgetown Medical School
Janine Cadet
Chief Resident, Emergency Medicine, Los Angeles General Medical Center/University of Southern California
our team of nationally recognized experts studies the latest evidence-based data to create training programs to help save lives.
Active Red Cross Instructors can access resources provided in the Red Cross Learning Center Instructor Portal and set your students up for success.
on the science, standards, and regulations behind our programs?
Read the latest from our most recent proceedings.
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.
from the American Red Cross Scientific Advisory Council, on everything from heat-related illness to acute coronary syndrome.
Read the latest from our most recent proceedings
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:
Answer:
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.
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.
or email us: media@redcross.org
you can be the difference between life and death. Take a class and learn how to provide care when it's needed most.
Be ready at a moment's notice using the EmergencyFirst Aid App.
you can be the difference between life and death. Take a class and learn how to provide care when its needed most.
Be ready at a moment's notice using the Emergency First Aid App.
First Aid
Access the new American Red Cross First Aid Guidelines Database. This searchable online tool supports first aid providers with the most current, evidence-based guidance from the American Red Cross Scientific Advisory Council. It offers clear, accessible explanations of the scientific reviews and evidence summaries that help inform Red Cross First Aid/CPR/AED programs. Read More
Aquatics
Access the new American Red Cross Aquatics Guidelines and Best Practices Database. This database provides the latest evidence and science informed by the American Red Cross Scientific Advisory Council. It is a searchable online repository that provides users with easy-to-comprehend explanations of Red Cross scientific reviews, aquatic statements and best practices that underpin the entire Lifeguarding program. Read More
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
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
Access the new American Red Cross Healthcare Guidelines Database. This database provides the latest evidence and science informed by the American Red Cross Scientific Advisory Council. It is a searchable online repository that includes more than 160 topics spanning basic, advanced, pediatric and neonatal resuscitation, as well as, resuscitation education science. Users can quickly find the latest Red Cross Guidelines, evidence summaries and insights and implications for each topic. Read More
Preparedness
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
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.
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.
The American Red Cross invites emerging scholars to apply for a Fellowship in Evidence-Based Programming with the Red Cross Scientific Advisory Council (SAC). The Red Cross developed this fellowship to assist our national volunteer SAC and promote the development of critical professional competencies among emerging scholars to make immediate and long-term positive impacts on health and safety. Individuals from any field are eligible to apply but those in fields of medicine, disaster management, athletic training, community or health education, public health, or public policy may find specific connection of this fellowship to their curriculum.
To apply, please download the application here Download the Scientific Advisory Council Fellowship Program Application .
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.
Emblems and logos are used with permission of each organization.
Follow us on our Science X feed @RedCrossScience to learn about our scientific and academic news.