King Edward Memorial Hospital pathologist Dr. Keith Cunningham addressed 64 Rotarians in a speech entitled "Red Cross - Red Blood'' at the Hamilton Princess this week.

Described as one of Bermuda's "top medical minds,'' by fellow Rotarian Mrs.

Louise Jackson, Dr. Cunningham explained the history of the Red Cross and how the idea began in 1859 at the time of the Battle of Solferino in Italy.

He told how a Swiss businessman, travelling through the battlefields, was appalled to see that the wounded had simply been left to die. He suggested to European heads of state that a voluntary aid society be established in peacetime to aid the sick and wounded in times of war.

"Since World War II, the Red Cross has provided aid for the victims of natural and man-made disasters,'' said Dr. Cunningham.

"The society now functions at times of peace as well as war, and also provides health and social services for its own nations.'' Deputy director of the Bermuda Red Cross Society Mrs. Barbara Cooper told Rotarians how Bermuda was the first country outside the United States to introduce testing for the HIV virus.

"After the blood is collected, we do routine extensive testing. The blood is immediately discarded if it is found to be tainted,'' she said.

And she dispelled rumours that Bermuda's blood banks have run low in the past.

"Let me assure you that is not the case and Bermuda need never worry about blood being in short supply. Supplies of fresh blood are collected as needed,'' she said. "But we don't store large quantities as blood can only be kept for a maximum of five weeks.'' Since the Red Cross is soon to lose some of its most regular donors with the departure of servicemen at the US Naval Base, the charity has to look elsewhere. So the Red Cross is now approaching Bermuda's corporations as a source of regular donors. "We would advise companies who are interested in taking part to appoint a liaison officer who would be asked to solicit employees or members to give blood,'' said Mrs. Cooper.

"They would then be contacted to give one pint to begin with and then again every six or seven months. It takes 30 minutes to an hour to give blood.'' And Mrs. Cooper stressed that there were advantages to giving blood for everyone.

"Since there is automatic testing, donors are tested free which can sometimes show up problems such as high blood pressure for the donors.'' "Donating blood is a vital and life-saving contribution to our society,'' she said.