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Bloodline, the email newsletter of the Triangle Area Chapter of the
American Red Cross, is published once a month. Please forward to an
interested friend or co-worker.
Blood Banking Community Issues National Appeal for Immediate Donations to Address Winter Blood Shortage
(Raleigh, NC) - The nation's blood banks, represented by the American
Red Cross, American Association of Blood Banks, and America's Blood
Centers, are asking for immediate blood donations to boost already critically low blood supplies. This call to action comes at a time when blood is traditionally in short supply due to the holidays, travel schedules, inclement weather and illness. In the Carolinas Region of the American Red Cross, the current inventory of all blood types is hovering at a one-day supply.
National inventory levels have dropped well below a safe and adequate
supply. Certain critical blood types are nearing depletion and in some
areas of the country elective surgeries have been postponed or cancelled. The inventory continues to drop due to a number of contributing factors, including holiday travel, breaks from school, extreme weather conditions in the West and a decline in sponsor-scheduled blood drives. Individuals are asked to support their local blood centers by making and keeping an appointment to donate immediately. If supplies are not replenished, surgeries will continue to be cancelled and patient care may be compromised.
"We are joining the blood banking community to emphasize the significance of the need to donate blood," said Secretary of Health and Human Services, Tommy G. Thompson. "The nation is facing critical shortages in communities across the country. If blood supplies do not immediately increase, patients, accident victims and those whose lives depend on regular transfusions, are at risk for not getting the blood they need. Every eligible individual should give blood, if not for themselves, for their friends, their loved ones or their neighbors."
Eligible donors are asked to schedule appointments to donate blood now -
and on a regular basis. Those interested in donating blood are urged to contact 1-800-GIVE LIFE. Area Red Cross Blood Centers have extended collection hours due to the urgent blood needs:
Tuesday, January 13, 2004
Raleigh Red Cross 100 N. Peartree Lane 2:30 pm - 8:00 pm
Wednesday, January 14, 2004
Cary Red Cross 305-A Ashville Avenue 8:00 am - 2:00 pm
Thursday, January 15, 2004
Raleigh Red Cross 100 N. Peartree Lane 8:00 am - 2:00 pm
North Raleigh Red Cross 7201 Creedmoor Rd 1:30 pm - 7:00 pm
Cary Red Cross 305-A Ashville Avenue 1:30 pm - 7:00 pm
Friday, January 16
North Raleigh Red Cross 7201 Creedmoor Rd 8:00 am - 2:00 pm
Cary Red Cross 305-A Ashville Avenue 8:00 am - 2:00 pm
Every day blood is needed in hospitals and emergency treatment
facilities for patients with cancer and other diseases, for organ
transplant recipients, and to save the lives of accident victims.
Giving blood is easy, safe and takes less than one hour, but only about
five percent of eligible Americans donate blood. Donations are
critically needed, please act now.
Please review our list of blood center hours below or visit
http://www.trianglearc.org/arcweb/Blood/bloodms.htm for upcoming blood drives in the area. To make an appointment to give blood, call the
chapter at 231-1602, x422 or call 1-800-GIVE LIFE.
Raleigh Blood Center
100 N. Peartree Lane
Raleigh, NC 27610
Monday 2:30 pm - 7:00 pm
Tuesday 2:30 pm - 7:00 pm
Thursday 8:00 am - 1:00 pm
**Sunday, 1/18, 11:00 am - 3:00 pm
North Raleigh Blood Center
7201 Creedmoor Rd.
Raleigh, NC 27613
Monday 2:30 pm - 7:00 pm
Thursday 2:30 pm - 7:00 pm
Friday 8:00 am - 1:00 pm
Saturday, 1/17, 8:00 am - 12:00 pm
Cary Blood Center
305-A Ashville Ave.
Cary, NC 27511
Monday 2:30 pm - 7:00 pm
Wednesday 8:00 am - 1:00 pm
Thursday 2:30 pm - 7:00 pm
Friday 8:00 am - 1:00 pm
Saturday, 1/24, 8:00 am - 12:00 pm
To donate blood, you must be 17 years of age or older, weigh at least
110 pounds and be in general good health. You are eligible to donate
every 56 days. For more information regarding blood donations, visit
our website at
www.trianglearc.org, call 231-1602, or email
blood@trianglearc.org.
Friends & Family - January 12-17th
At your local Red Cross, we deliver the gift of life from those who care
to those in need, whether next door or across the country. As a local
blood provider, we help meet the needs of your hometown hospital, but as part of a national organization, we are also capable of making sure
that blood is available whenever and wherever it is needed. When you
come into one of our blood centers this week, show us where your friends
and family are by placing a marking dot on the map in the canteen area.
Donors who come in this week will also also receive a Friends & Family
magnet and can enter a drawing for a pre-paid 100 minutes calling card
to call far away loved ones.
Give Blood MLK Day
Celebrate the life of Dr. Martin Luther King by giving the gift of life. All 3 area Red Cross blood centers will be open 2:30-7:00 pm on Monday, January, 19. In addition, the Louisburg community is hosting a blood drive the same day at the Louisburg Senior Center, 127 Shannon Village, from 2:00 pm to 6:30 pm.
Of special note in honor of the holiday, is the on-going need for African American blood donors. Donations made by African-Americans may be used to help African-Americans with sickle cell or other major blood diseases, such as leukemia or cancer. One in every 12 African-Americans carries the sickle cell trait and approximately one in 500 develop sickle cell diseases. These patients require transfusions of blood similar to their own. The chances of finding the right blood for a sickle cell patient are increased when the donor is of the same race.
Houlihan's Coupons
As a special thank you when you come to give blood, Houlihan's is
providing a buy one, get one free coupon for an entree at one of their 3
Wake County locations. In addition, Houlihan's is supporting the
Triangle Area Chapter by donating 2% of their sales proceeds on the
first Monday of each month (Red Cross Night).
Sponsor a Drive
Does your business, church or civic group sponsor a blood drive? If so, we thank you for your continued support. If not, please call today to find out how to sponsor a blood drive.
Marrow Drive
Thursday, February 19 - 2:30 pm - 7:00 pm - Marrow Drive at the North
Raleigh Blood Center. This is an excellent opportunity for area
residents to become part of the National Marrow Donor Program Registry
at no cost. Joining the registry involves a registration process, a
blood sample equal to about 2 tablespoons of blood and the completion of
a consent form. To join the registry, volunteers must be between the
ages of 18 & 60 and in good health. No appointments necessary. For
more information on marrow donation, visit the National Marrow Donor
Program website at
www.marrow.org.
To subscribe to this email, send a message to
blood@trianglearc.org with the message "Subscribe" and your name. To cancel your subscription, send a reply e-mail with your name and the message "Cancel." We welcome your comments.
For more information on volunteering, taking first aid and CPR classes,
preparing for disasters, and other chapter services, visit our website
at
www.trianglearc.org.
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