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Frequently Asked Questions
easing suffering. This diverse organization serves humanity and helps you by providing relief to The
Red Cross is committed to saving lives and How can the Red Cross help 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.
Can I get a disease if I give / receive 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.
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 were 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.
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.XX
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.
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.
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.
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 wishing to volunteer their time can contact us for a
list of volunteer opportunities through our Garden City Area Red Cross Chapter. International disaster
relief workers are drawn from a pool of volunteers and employees with extensive prior experience.
Individuals wishing to make a financial donation to the American
Red Cross may send a check to:
American Red Cross
Garden City Area Chapter
210 Fulton Terrace
Garden City, KS 67846-6151
Why does the Red Cross discourage donations of collected goods
and individual items for disaster relief? Collections of items require valuable and
scarce resources such as time, money, and personnel to sort, clean, and distribute them, which come
at the expense of the emergency activities relief workers are attempting to perform. The Red Cross
has neither the resources, nor the logistical set-up, to properly handle these types of donations, and
therefore cannot accept them.
In addition, because we have no way of knowing what spontaneous individual donations or unsolicited
collections of items will consist of, we cannot ensure there will be enough of a particular item to
distribute it equitably, or if the donated products will even be appropriate for the relief effort.
Shipping donated goods is also costly and particularly difficult in the aftermath of a disaster, as
inroads into disaster sites are often damaged or impassable, and easily clogged with shipments of
non-priority items. The Red Cross makes every attempt to procure items locally to save money by
minimizing transportation and storage costs. Local procurement also ensures that the items
distributed to disaster victims are appropriate for their culture and diet.
Red Cross is committed to saving lives and How can the Red Cross help 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.
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.
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.
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 were 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.
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.XX
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.
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.
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.
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 wishing to volunteer their time can contact us for a
list of volunteer opportunities through our Garden City Area Red Cross Chapter. International disaster
relief workers are drawn from a pool of volunteers and employees with extensive prior experience.
Individuals wishing to make a financial donation to the American
Red Cross may send a check to:
American Red Cross
Garden City Area Chapter
210 Fulton Terrace
Garden City, KS 67846-6151
Why does the Red Cross discourage donations of collected goods
and individual items for disaster relief? Collections of items require valuable and
scarce resources such as time, money, and personnel to sort, clean, and distribute them, which come
at the expense of the emergency activities relief workers are attempting to perform. The Red Cross
has neither the resources, nor the logistical set-up, to properly handle these types of donations, and
therefore cannot accept them.
In addition, because we have no way of knowing what spontaneous individual donations or unsolicited
collections of items will consist of, we cannot ensure there will be enough of a particular item to
distribute it equitably, or if the donated products will even be appropriate for the relief effort.
Shipping donated goods is also costly and particularly difficult in the aftermath of a disaster, as
inroads into disaster sites are often damaged or impassable, and easily clogged with shipments of
non-priority items. The Red Cross makes every attempt to procure items locally to save money by
minimizing transportation and storage costs. Local procurement also ensures that the items
distributed to disaster victims are appropriate for their culture and diet.
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