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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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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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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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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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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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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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
P.O. Box 37243
Washington, DC 20013.
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. Donations
may also be made on our secure Internet site.
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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
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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