The regional rescue association Weißes Kreuz was founded on 10 August 1965 and by way of the decree of the president of the Republic of Italy of 1974 acknowledged as a legal entity under private law. Since 21 May 1998 the Weißes Kreuz, with the decree of the state prime minister of the autonomous province South Tyrol, is also entered in the regional directory of the volunteer organisations (denominated onlus).

Activities
The focus of the work of the regional rescue association Weißes Kreuz consists of measures in the field of social welfare, health and social health, in carrying out corresponding training and further training measures and in rendering assistance for patients, the disabled, old people.
The Weißes Kreuz performs the following services: Rescue, patient transport services, organ and laboratory transports, training and further training, civil defence activities, emergency group supervision, emergency house service, stand-by emergency duties at sport events, emergency counselling etc. Additionally, the Weißes Kreuz is a leading member of the South Tyrol air rescue service.
The Weißes Kreuz is financed through contracts for payments of services with the autonomous province Bozen, through agreements with the various medical units, through transports for private patients, insurance benefits, membership fees, donations and public contributions.

Organisation
The regional rescue association Weißes Kreuz has thirty local rescue centres, covering large areas mainly in the Province of South Tyrol, which are equipped with ambulances, rescue cars and mobile intensive care units and civil defence vehicles.