Helping people in need is very important to TI employee Michael Kraus. Each year, he dedicates more than 200 hours serving as a volunteer paramedic and leader of a Red Cross emergency response team that provides technical and medical services at large accidents and events in his German community.
"I think it is very important to help one another," said Kraus, a yield enhancement engineer at TI's Freising, Germany facility
"I always have the opinion that someday something could also happen to me or my family, and I would be glad to have people who would voluntarily come and help."
Long-term volunteer service
Kraus has been a Red Cross volunteer for the past 25 years. He became a member of the Wasserwacht branch of the German Red Cross at the age of 12, working as a volunteer lifeguard.
He transferred to the medical service branch of the German Red Cross at the age of 22, where he continues to work as a volunteer paramedic once or twice a month.
Kraus is also the section leader of an emergency medical squad that provides medical support at large events and accidents. His squad has two emergency vehicles equipped with the material and equipment needed to provide medical help for as many as 25 injured individuals until the patients are transported to hospitals by public emergency services.
Over the years, Kraus and his squad have come to the aid of people at World Cup events, World Soccer Championships, Oktoberfest celebrations, building evacuations and weather-related catastrophes, to name a few.
However, Kraus' most memorable volunteer experience occurred more than 10 years ago at a church service, where he was able to save someone's life outside of his Red Cross volunteer duties.
"After that experience, I felt confident that all of the many hours that I have spent in medical training were definitely worth it," Kraus said.
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| Michael Kraus is being recognized with a 2012 TI Founders Community Service Award for his service as a volunteer paramedic and leader of a Red Cross emergency response team. |
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What special skills or experience have you acquired through volunteering?
"I have improved my leadership skills. As a Red Cross volunteer, I have had the opportunity to participate in several medical training sessions. I have also improved my presentation skills because I have participated in methodology/didactics training through the Red Cross as well."
What does winning this award mean to you?
"This award means very much to me. It shows me the volunteer work is recognized by TI. We will use the award donation to purchase medical equipment, which will enable us to help many people."
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