What
is the worst disaster the Red Cross has ever dealt with?
Who founded the American Red Cross?
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?
Why are symbols other than a red cross used
by other National Societies within the Movement?
How can the Red Cross help me?
Who founded the Red Cross?
What is the Mission of the American Red Cross?
Is the American Red Cross part of the U.S. government?
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?
Where can I find evidence of Red Cross insurance
coverage?
What are the fundamental principals of the
International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement?
Does the American Red Cross collect blood?
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 has 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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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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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 donations 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 can click on "Give Time" for
more information on local volunteer opportunities. 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 do son by clicking "Give donations" and following
the on-line donation instructions or send a check to the Pikes
Peak Chapter at:
American Red Cross Pikes Peak Chapter
1040 S. 8th Street
Colorado Springs, CO 80905
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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, endeavors, 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 endeavors 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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Does
the American Red Cross collect blood?
Nationally, the American Red Cross is a leader in blood collecting
and testing. However, the American Red Cross does not collect
blood in the state of Colorado. Please contact other local
resources if you are interested in donating blood.
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