How can the Red Cross help me?
Can I get a disease if I give/receive blood?
Who founded the Red Cross?
What is the Mission of the American Red Cross?
Why are symbols other than a red cross used by other
National Societies within the Movement?
U.S. Armed Forces have highly skilled medical staff
as part of their fighting force, why does the American
Red Cross send its members into battle?
Is the American Red Cross part of the U.S. government?
Where can I give blood?
Where can I find evidence of Red Cross insurance
coverage?
What is the worst disaster the Red Cross has ever
dealt with?
Who founded the American Red Cross?
What are the fundamental principles of the International
Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement?
Why won't the Red Cross accept small, individual
donations or collections of items such as clothing,
food or cleaning supplies-doesn't every little bit
help?
What can I do to help?
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How can the Red Cross help me?
The Red Cross is committed to saving lives and easing
suffering. This diverse organization serves humanity
and helps you by providing relief to victims of disaster,
both locally and globally. The Red Cross is responsible
for half of the nation's blood supply and blood products.
The Red Cross gives health and safety training to
the public and provides emergency social services to
U.S. military members and their families. In the wake
of an earthquake, tornado, flood, fire, hurricane or
other disaster, it provides relief services to communities
across the country. The Red Cross is America's most
trusted charity, and it needs the support of compassionate
Americans to succeed.
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Can I get a disease if I give/receive blood?
Giving blood: The procedure itself is very safe-every
donation is taken from a new and sterile needle, which
is immediately disposed of after that single use. When
these procedures are followed, you cannot contract
the virus that causes AIDS.
Receiving blood: It is also safe to receive a blood
transfusion. In fact, the risks of contracting a blood-borne
disease through transfusion are far less than the risks
of not receiving that transfusion at all. The nation's
blood supply is safer today than it has ever been and
is as safe as modern science and medicine can make
it. The chance of contracting the virus that causes
AIDS through a blood transfusion is 1 in 1.5 million.
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Who founded the Red Cross?
The Red Cross idea was born in 1859, when Henry Dunant,
a young Swiss man, came upon the scene of a bloody
battle in Solferino, Italy, between the armies of imperial
Austria and the Franco-Sardinian alliance. Some 40,000
men lay dead or dying on the battlefield and the wounded
were lacking medical attention. Dunant organized local
people to bind the soldiers' wounds and to feed and
comfort them. On his return, he called for the creation
of national relief societies to assist those wounded
in war, and pointed the way to the future Geneva Conventions.
In October 1863, The International Red Cross and Red
Crescent Movement was created in Geneva, Switzerland,
to provide nonpartisan care to the wounded and sick
in times of war. The Red Cross emblem was adopted at
this first International Conference as a symbol of
neutrality and was to be used by national relief societies.
In August 1864, the representatives of 12 governments
signed the Geneva Convention Treaty. The extraordinary
efforts of Henry Dunant led to the eventual establishment
of the International Red Cross. Today, the Red Cross
Movement incorporates the Geneva-based International
Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the International
Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
(the International Federation), as well as National
Societies in 175 countries, including the American
Red Cross of the United States.
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What is the Mission of the American Red Cross?
The American Red Cross, a humanitarian organization
led by volunteers, guided by its Congressional Charter
and the Fundamental Principles of the International
Red Cross Movement, will provide relief to victims
of disasters and help people prevent, prepare for,
and respond to emergencies.
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Why are symbols other than a red cross used by other
National Societies within the Movement?
Although the red cross is not a religious symbol, some
societies view it as such. The symbol of the red crescent
is used instead of the red cross by societies in most
Islamic countries; and the Magen David Adom, or Red
Shield of David, is used in Israel.
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U.S. Armed Forces have highly skilled medical staff
as part of their fighting force, why does the American
Red Cross send its members into battle?
In 1905, the U.S. Congress granted a charter to the
American Red Cross that required it to act "in
accord with the military authorities as a medium of
communication between the people of the United States
and their armed forces." Since then, the Red Cross
has provided communications and other humanitarian
services to help members of the U.S. military and their
families around the world. Living and working in the
same difficult situations and dangerous environment
as U.S. troops, Red Cross staff have given comfort
to soldiers thousands of miles from home by providing
emergency messages, about deaths and births, for example,
comfort kits and blank cards for troops to send home
to loved ones.
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Is the American Red Cross part of the U.S. government?
The American Red Cross functions independently of the
government but works closely with government agencies,
such as the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA),
during times of major crises. It is responsible for
giving aid to members of the U.S. Armed Forces and
to disaster victims at home and abroad. It does this
through services that are consistent with its Congressional
Charter and the Fundamental Principles of the International
Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement allowing the Red
Cross to stay neutral and impartial.
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Where can I give blood?
Individuals wishing to make a blood donation to the
Red Cross may call their local Red Cross Blood Services
office or call 1-800-GIVE-LIFE.
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Where can I find evidence of Red Cross insurance coverage?
Evidence of Red Cross insurance coverage is available
in the form of a Memorandum of Insurance (MOI) at www.marsh.com/moi?client=2077.
The MOI is a listing of liability policies, policy
numbers and insurance companies, and general property
information prepared by Marsh USA, Inc., the insurance
broker for the Red Cross. The Memorandum is available
at any time, subject to web site maintenance and information
updates.
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What is the worst disaster the Red Cross has ever dealt
with?
The highest natural disaster death toll in U.S. history
was caused by the Galveston, Texas, hurricane of 1900,
which killed an estimated 6,000 people. The most expensive
disaster is the Terrorist Attacks of September 11,
2001. The destructive events will cost more than $997
million in disaster aid. The largest mobilization of
volunteers for a disaster relief operation was also
in response to the Terrorist Attacks of September 11,
2001, when a total of 54,577 workers arrived on the
scene to provide relief.
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Who founded the American Red Cross?
Clara Barton (1821-1912) dominates the early history
of the American Red Cross, which was modeled after
the International Red Cross. She did not originate
the Red Cross idea, but she was the first person to
establish a lasting Red Cross Society in America. She
successfully organized the American Association of
the Red Cross in Washington, D.C., on May 21, 1881.
Created to serve America in peace and in war, during
times of disaster and national calamity, Barton's organization
took its service beyond that of the International Red
Cross Movement by adding disaster relief to battlefield
assistance. She served as the organization's volunteer
president until 1904.
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What are the fundamental principles of the International
Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement?
Humanity: The International Red Cross and Red Crescent
Movement, born of a desire to bring assistance without
discrimination to the wounded on the battlefield, endeavours,
in its international and national capacity, to prevent
and alleviate human suffering wherever it may be found.
Its purpose is to protect life and health and to ensure
respect for the human being. It promotes mutual understanding,
friendship, cooperation and lasting peace amongst all
peoples.
Impartiality: It makes no discrimination as to nationality,
race, religious beliefs, class or political opinions.
It endeavours to relieve the suffering of individuals,
being guided solely by their needs, and to give priority
to the most urgent cases of distress.
Neutrality: In order to continue to enjoy the confidence
of all, the Movement may not take sides in hostilities
or engage at any time in controversies of a political,
racial, religious or ideological nature.
Independence: The Movement is independent. The National
Societies, while auxiliaries in the humanitarian services
of their governments and subject to the laws of their
respective countries, must always maintain their autonomy
so that they may be able at all times to act in accordance
with the principles of the Movement.
Voluntary Service: It is a voluntary relief movement
not prompted in any manner by desire for gain.
Unity: There can be only one Red Cross or one Red
Crescent Society in any one country. It must be open
to all. It must carry on its humanitarian work throughout
its territory.
Universality: The International Red Cross and Red
Crescent Movement, in which all Societies have equal
status and share equal responsibilities and duties
in helping each other, is worldwide.
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Why won't the Red Cross accept small, individual donations
or collections of items such as clothing, food or
cleaning supplies-doesn't every little bit help?
The Red Cross does not accept individual donations
of material items (called "in-kind" donations)
because receipt of such items can actually hamper relief
efforts. The financial and personnel cost of receiving,
sorting, transporting goods and ensuring the quality
and cleanliness of items donated by individual households
is very high. It does not allow for individuals and
families to receive what they uniquely need in their
own size and shape.
The traditional method of providing Red Cross assistance
is with a voucher, redeemable at local stores and paid
for with donation dollars, that enables victims to
purchase what they need in the correct sizes and in
accordance with their own taste. Making even these
small decisions helps individuals begin to take control
of their lives and their recovery. In addition, this
process helps channel money into the local economy
and thus aids the community in recovery from disaster.
The Red Cross does accept large corporate donations
of food, bottled water and other items needed by the
disaster-affected communities.
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What can I do to help?
There is a wide variety of volunteer opportunities
at the Red Cross to support all of the organization's
services. People who wish to volunteer should contact
their local American Red Cross chapter because the
vast majority of volunteer opportunities are typically
found within an individual's local community. International
disaster relief workers are drawn from a pool of paid
and volunteer staff with extensive prior experience.
Individuals wishing to make a financial donation to
the American Red Cross may send a check to their local
Red Cross chapter or to
American
Red Cross - Greater Ozarks Chapter
1545 N West Bypass - Springfield, MO 65803
office: (417) 832-9500 fax: (417)
866-3649
Also, donors may call 1-800-HELP-NOW (1-800-435-7669)
or, for Spanish speakers, 1-800-257-7575 to charge
a financial contribution to their credit cards.
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