The Red Cross got its its first congressional charter in 1900 and its second one in 1905. Before the first World War introduced its first aid, water safety, and public nursing services. With the start of war the organizational growth of Red Cross began. The number of local chapters increased from 107 in 1914 to 8,864 in 1918. The number in membership also grew from 17,00 to over 20 million. The public contributed lots of money and many materials. After WWI Red Cross nurses focused on serving veterans and enhancing our programs of self training, accident prevention, home care for the ill and  nutrition education. They also provided aid for natural disasters such as hurricanes, fires and floods.​