Beyond the Call of Duty

by Stephanie Masucci guest writer

"A lot of people think the Red Cross is just blood donations," said Red Cross amateur radio operator and disaster action team member Raymond Gershon. "But it does a lot more."

The Red Cross has been offering assistance to those in need for over a century. The backbone of this operation, are those who want to help others without receiving a dime for their labor. Their gratification comes from the words of those that they have helped. "People come up to you and say thank you for what you have done. It makes you feel so proud," Gershon said. 1.5 million people volunteer for the Red Cross and they respond to over 50,000 disasters a year. The Red Cross believes that people are the most valuable resource in a disaster.

The biggest disaster on American soil came last week as the Red Cross responded to the terrorist attacks on the East Coast. America came together during this indescribable and mind-blowing attack to help those affected by this tragedy. Clothing, masks, towels, and boots were among the hundreds of other items that were donated to the Red Cross. Restaurants donated food as well as large companies who sent employees to make food for the volunteers who were cleaning up the rubble.

This attack on America has brought the country together as it tries to return to a state of normalcy.

The Red Cross is the group that has been organizing and trying to help make one aspect of those affected by this tragedy a little bit easier. The Red Cross is broken up into chapters, which allows for a sufficient amount of offices to be located all over the U.S. The nation- courtesy of www.redcross.org strike. Its health services department offers physical and mental help for those who were affected by a tragedy. Psychiatrists, psychologists, and mental health physicians from all over the U.S. went to New York to help the survivors of the World Trade Center destruction and the family members who were affected in some way. The Family Compassion Center is another department of the Red Cross that deals with the family members of people hurt or killed in a disaster.

The Welfare Inquiry is where an immediate family member can call in to see if a family member has wide network was opened since this disaster exceeded the New York chapter's capacity. A national disaster relief plan was activated, by the government, and the Red Cross is listed in the plan to provide mass care.

The Red Cross plans to the best of its ability to help out when a disaster does been found. This is also where the names are given of those individuals who are missing. Family members were being found Sunday night, almost a week after the tragedy. Kerry Baker, a licensed practical nurse and a full-time RN student at Abington Memorial Hospital Di,xon School of

Nursing, volunteered for the Red Cross on Sunday. as a result of the terrorist attacks.

"I wanted to learn about volunteering with the Red Cross. I was drawn here from the tragedy."

Baker is interested in starting a blood drive for the victims in New York and a fundraiser. Baker also found out about the aspects of the Red Cross from her friend and 10 year Red Cross volunteer Carol Pieper, RN. Pieper is a volunteer who gets called in during the event of a crisis.

"It's extremely rewarding. You really feel like you're able to help someone, and you treat the whole family and the person in light of their circumstances."

Baker called the Red Cross as soon as the second plane hit the second World Trade Center. She was called in three days later. She is so thankful that so many people chose to volunteer and help out during this tragedy. The Red Cross will be in need of blood for weeks to come. To donate blood, call 1-800-Give-Life or go to www.pleasegiveblood.org. If you are interested in becoming a Red Cross volunteer, go to www.redcross.org to find out how.