March 2026 Magazine - Flipbook - Page 25
SAFETY
The 7
Principles that
the American
Red Cross
follows are:
1.Humanity – Providing services to the
entire human race.
2.Impartiality – Equal treatment for anyone,
regardless of where they stand in a
conflict.
3.Neutrality – Refusal to take a side or form
an opinion about anyone receiving
services.
4.Independence – Freedom from being
controlled or influenced by any entity
during times of crisis.
5.Voluntary Service – Working alongside
other groups and people to provide
emergency services to those in need.
6.Unity – Working together with others
toward the single goal of caring and
helping.
7.Universality – Going anywhere armed
conflicts, natural disasters, and other
emergencies exist.
THE RED CROSS PROVIDES:
Blood Donation: The ARC provides about
45% of the donated blood in the U.S., which
is sold to hospitals and regional suppliers on
a cost-recovery basis.
Plasma Services: The ARC provides more
than one fourth of the plasma products in the
U.S.
Nucleic Acid Testing: In 1999, the ARC
became one of the first American blood
banks to implement nucleic acid testing.
These tests are licensed by the U.S. Food
and Drug Administration.
Leukoreduction: Better known as the
removal of white blood cells, this process
helps reduce reactions caused by foreign
substances such as bacteria, viruses, and
abnormal cells.
Research: The ARC operates the Jerome H. Holland Blood Laboratory in Rockville, Maryland, dedicated to
biomedical research. They continuously improve blood collection processes and strengthen blood safety.
Cellular Therapies: The ARC offers various cellular therapies involving collecting and treating blood cells
from a patient or blood donor. Treated cells are introduced into a patient to help revive normal cell function,
replace cells lost because of disease, accident, or aging, or prevent illness from appearing.
March 2026 | THE TEXAS SURVEYOR
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