The Florence Nightingale Medal
This is the highers international distinction given to nurses and support personnel of the Red Cross (living or dead, killed in action) according to:
- wishes of the participants of the 8th International Red Cross Conference in London in 1907,
- Resolution of the 9th Conference of the International Committee of the Red Cross. Washington, May 16th, 1912.
The Medal is awarded by the International Committee of the Red Cross to the persons distinctive with acts of devotion, enormous courage in helping the others during war or peace time, victims of conflicts, disasters and catastrophes, as well as for enormous merits for the nursing, innovative and creative activity for public health and nursing education.
The Medal is set for memory of the most recognized Florence Nightingale actions for the better care for the sick and injured during the Crimean War. She organized hospitals and military field hospitals in the years 1854-1955, introduced sanitary regime, decreasing patients’ mortality from 74% to 22%. She acted according to her idea of obligatory help for the injured regardless their affiliation to conflict parties or army. This idea became a fundamental rule of international humanitarian law promoted by the International Red Cross. She initiated professional nursing education, and established nursing school influencing development of nursing all over the war (1860, London, St. Thomas Hospital).
National Red Cross, Red Crescent, and Red Lion Committees apply for the Medal. It is being awarded biannually on F. Nightingale birthday. Number of the Medals awarded in a given year cannot exceed 36 – as a celebration of Florence’s team with which she started her mission during the Crimean war.
The Medal is accompanied by the Honorary Diploma, both with Florence Nightingale’s image with a burning oil lamp in her hand, symbol of devotion and courage in helping those in need.
The Medal is not granted during wars of global range.
