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| Frequently Asked Questions |
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| Corporate Membership |
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Q. |
Do you need to know my blood group? |
| A. | No. However, we strongly recommend our members carry a copy of their blood grouping certificate or other official confirmation of blood group, e.g. a letter from your G.P. |
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Q. |
How do you know if I need blood? |
| A. | The treating doctor will advise our Alarm Centre of any requirement for blood. |
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Q. |
How long does it take for the blood to reach me? |
| A. | The Foundation delivers blood by scheduled flight to the nearest airport to the patient. We expect the blood to arrive within 24 hours. We also offer the facility for private charter flights but these are at the discretion of the employer. |
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Q. |
Where does the blood come from? |
| A. |
All blood delivered by the Foundation is sourced from blood banks which meet the highest international quality standards, such as the those of the US Food and Drug Administration, the International Society of Blood Transfusion and the American Association of Blood Banks. Sourcing blood banks include:
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Q. |
How do you know it is safe? |
| A. | The sources used by the Foundation screen every unit of blood to the highest possible standards. |
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Q. |
How does the treating doctor know my blood group? |
| A. | If you do not have written confirmation of your group with you, the treating doctor will arrange for your blood to be grouped before contacting our alarm centre. |
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Q. |
What happens if I am unconscious? |
| A. | We recommend you carry your Membership Confirmation and Blood Grouping Certificate with you at all times when travelling. We also recommend you advise travelling companions / friends / colleagues of your membership of the Foundation should you be unable to tell the doctor yourself. If possible, we prefer to link access to our alarm centre through your evacuation company as this helps avoid unnecessary delays. |
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Q. |
How much does it cost? |
| A. | Corporate membership starts at £750 per annum for groups of up to 25 people. Please see our Fee schedule for further details. |
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Q. |
How long is my membership valid? |
| A. | Corporate membership runs for a minimum of 12 months. |
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Q. |
How can I make a donation? |
| A. | Please see our Donation page. |
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Q. |
Can my family overseas be covered? |
| A. | Yes. |
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Q. |
Do I need travel insurance as well? |
| A. | Membership of the Foundation is not intended to replace travel insurance in any way; our service is designed to complement your travel insurance policy. |
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Q. |
What is elective surgery? |
| A. | Elective surgery is generally planned in advance and is not as a result of an emergency such as a car crash or a sudden illness. |
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Q. |
What happens if I need elective surgery? |
| A. | The Foundation is unable to provide blood for elective surgery. If you are due to be operated on in a location where the local blood supply is unreliable / unavailable then we strongly advise you re-locate your surgery to an area where the problems with blood are not an issue. However, we will endeavour to help our corporate members but only on a case-by-case basis. |
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Which Countries are covered? |
| A. | The Foundation is keen not to deplete the limited blood supplies of many countries so we will supply blood in as many countries as possible. |
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Why should I sign up? |
| A. | Membership of the Foundation presents a further level of protection for your staff in many areas of the world and provides much needed peace of mind. |
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What happens before the blood arrives? |
| A. | We recommend all travellers carry sterile needles and, where possible, giving sets. This simple precaution can ensure you are not contaminated by re-used equipment. We offer our corporate clients the option of storing sterile transfusion kits in their office around the world for use by the treating doctor. |
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© The Blood Care Foundation