Finnish Red Cross

The Finnish Red Cross was founded on May 7, 1877, to care for the wounded and sick soldiers of the Finnish Guard in the Russo-Turkish War. The FRC was recognized by the ICRC in 1920 and became a member of IFRC in 1922, when Finland ratified the Geneva Conventions. Finnish Marshal C. G. E Mannerheim was the longest chairman of the FRC, serving from 1922 to 1951. In 1948, the FRC took the operational responsibility of the blood transfusion services in Finland, which had been operated by the Finnish Scouts since 1935. The FRC Blood Service is a legally independent organization. ==Domestic operations==

The Blood Service every autumn, usually in September. The campaign has an annual theme; in 2006, people were reminded how desertification, flooding and storms most affect the children under five years of age. On the day fundraisers can be seen in front of grocery stores and other public places. In schools school meals can be reduced and served, for example, without salad, bread or milk. The FRC trains over 80,000 people yearly on the first aid and CPR courses for the general public and companies. FRC has more than 550 first aid groups around the country with more than 8,000 volunteers. These groups are on duty daily in the majority of public events in Finland. They can also help in search and rescue when requested by the authorities. FRC also coordinates the Voluntary Rescue Service which is formed by over 40 civic organisations and over 30,000 volunteers. The FRC has a national emergency group of psychologists which organises and coordinates psycho-social support in situations they are needed, for example after the Jokela school shooting in 2007. FRC's Disaster Relief Fund is used to give assistance in accidents and due to social reasons. Domestic aid was about FIM 3.6 million (US$955,000) in 2001. ==Finnish Red Cross youth==

The organisation also has youth programs and youth based operations. Members between 13 and 29 years of age make up 10% of members and operate at all levels of the organisation. It was decided in the Finnish Red Cross 2008 national meeting that youth work will be supported also in the future, and that the goal for 2011 is to gain 5% more youth members. ==International operations==

s to the Finnish national defence. On left, a mortar squad training (part of the activities of National Defence Training Association of Finland, on the right, a joint exercise of the voluntary rescue organization and the Finnish Red Cross with the police and fire departments. The Finnish Red Cross gives international aid – personnel, funds, material – in response to appeals from the International Movement. There are two main sources for funds: FRC's Disaster Relief Fund and the Finnish government. In recent years, the European Union has also provided funds. Disaster relief is given to victims of war, conflict and natural disasters. Development cooperation improves the capacities and disaster preparedness of newly established sister societies or those with fewer resources. The FRC maintains its own Logistics Centre and International Personnel Reserve in Finland. The Disaster Relief Fund provides funds when needed. Funds are collected continuously and preferably as non-earmarked. FRC's International Personnel Reserve comprises about 600 professionals trained on FRC's basic and further training courses. Approximately 100 of them work in international assignments every year. FRC is also a member organisation of the European Council on Refugees and Exiles (ECRE) and Reuter's AlertNet network. ==References==