Do you want to be a Hero? Save 3 lives. Donate Blood.

[macbeth25]

We need Blood.  Here are some facts from the Florida Georgia Blood Alliance (FGBA) which handles blood donations in the Northeastern part of Florida and parts of Georgia:
•   Blood is used daily for all types of operations, accident victims, acute burn victims, cancer patients (ex. Leukemia), and for those with catastrophic diseases such as hemophilia.
•   There is no substitute for human blood.  Blood cannot be manufactured or harvested.
•   FGBA needs to collect more than 350 pints of blood every day to meet the needs of our local hospitals and medical facilities.
•   Blood shortages occur more often during the summer and holidays.  During these periods, usage increases and at the same time donations decrease.
•   One pint of blood can be separated into red blood cells, platelets, and plasma, and can save up to three lives..
•   One out of three people will need donated blood in their lifetime.
•   Sixty percent of the population is eligible to donate blood, yet only 5% of eligible donors do (3% of the entire population).
•   Every 8 minutes someone in our community needs a blood transfusion.
•   Every 2 ½ seconds someone in our country needs blood.
•   4.5 million Americans would die each year without lifesaving blood transfusions.
•   The shelf life of human blood is 42 days, and platelets only 5 days, so constant replenishment is imperative.
•   Whole blood can be donated every 56 days, platelets every 2 weeks, and plasma every 4 weeks.
•   The average adult body has between 10 and 12 pints of blood.  After 1 pint is donated, the body replaces the fluid portion within 24 hours, the platelets within 2 days, and the red blood cells within 56 days.
•   Anyone in good health, at least 17 years of age, and weighing at least 110 pounds may donate blood every 56 days (as long as they are not deferred for another reason).
•   The blood donation process takes approximately 45 minutes to an hour to complete, and includes:
o   Registration
o   Medical History
o   Mini Physical
o   Drawing of the Blood (7 â€" 10 minutes)
o   Snacks & Refreshments
•   A person cannot contract HIV/AIDS from donating blood.  Sterile, disposable needles and supplies are used only once and are safely discarded after each donation.
•   FGBA is a non-profit organization with a 100% volunteer blood donor system, the safest source of human blood.  The current blood supply is the safest it has ever been.
Go to http://igiveblood.com/ for more information on donating blood and where to go to do it.
Will you help save a life?  If you’re in my area, let me hear from you!!  You can find answers to most of your questions at the above website.  Speakers are available for your business, group or church.
If you are not in an area covered by the Blood Alliance, please check the Internet for the nearest Red Cross or other blood bank.  Also check with your medical provider or your hospital for more information.

[Dog Walker]

Do it!  And persuade a friend.  I doesn't hurt, isn't "ickey" and the people are nice.  You will also know deep down that you aren't as bad a person as you sometimes fear you are.  It's good for your karma.

[macbeth25]

Thanks for your comment.  A couple of things to remember.  The http://igiveblood.com/ site has all the donor centers and scheduled blood drives.  You can either go to a blood drive or a center and you can either donate on your own behalf or on someone else's -- I think that's called designating.  Sometimes you might need to stock up your own blood for -- can't think of the proper word but it means planned surgery -- or get credit for someone else. 
One of the really neat things is that you can often set up your own appointment right on the net.  I'm a "chairman" for blood drives in Callahan, Hilliard and Bryceville and I got some photos for a story I'm doing at a community drive in Hilliard today. 
You're right, donating is a good thing and I talked with a lady today who's given 10 gallons of blood -- so far -- and she intends to keep giving.  Becoming a hero often means risking your life on the spur of the moment.  Since you have the potential of saving up to three lives with one pint of blood -- which might cost you about an hour of time and maybe you'll feel a pinprick -- you can become a hero, too, and at much less risk.   I mean our readers in general.  Thanks again for your comment.

[macbeth25]

Welcome Flower:  Gregg Blackman, manager of the Hilliard Winn-Dixie, gives a flower to Adriana Vasquez-Bieker, Hilliard, as she donates blood.  He welcomed the Blood Alliance technicians and donors to Saturday’s community blood drive. Donating for some time, Adriana has given more than 10 gallons.  Technicians Na’Kima Martin (L) and Crystal Downer-Johnson (R) make sure everything is all set.  Donations totaled 21 units of whole blood plus three double red cell or Alyx donations.  The Blood Alliance has added Donor Link, a way for donors to keep up with wellness, to its website.  See http://www.igiveblood.com/donorlink/donorlink.html for more information.

I'm Doing It:  Gregg Blackman, manager of the Hilliard Winn-Dixie, donates blood Saturday, while Na’Kima Martin, technician, gets him set up to donate blood, something he’s not always been able to do.  Donors at this community blood drive gave 21 units plus 3 double red cell or Alyx donations that day. 

[Jason]

I donate a few times a year.  Besides, the doc says its good for men to donate regularly to help maintain iron levels, epsecially if you love red meat like I do!

[macbeth25]

If you haven't already, check out that website -- you can find out where and when to donate and keep track of your wellness info, too. 

[coredumped]

I do it a few times a year. But it was my understanding that they also give blood to SC now? Didn't they "re-brand" and give blood to all 3 states?

[macbeth25]

I don't know but I'll forward your comment to my contact there and see what I can find out.  We did pretty good our most recent Community Blood Drive in Callahan.  We got 37 units of blood. I sure hope you and any others of our group who qualify will donate.  You can do it about every 56 days or so.  As I've mentioned, if you are part of a group, business or church who would like a speaker, the Blood Alliance will be happy to accommodate you. 

[coredumped]

macbeth25 if you know someone at the bank tell them to put schwag on their buses!  I got ripped off last time I donated - I reached a milestone but they don't keep cool blood bank stuff on their buses! (no room I guess)

I'm happy to give though, their staff is always so great.

[macbeth25]

Here's an answer to your comment which I excerpted from http://igiveblood.com/aboutus.html.  You can find the mentioned brochure there.  RE
"schwag," the buses which come to Callahan and Hilliard generally carry coupons from local businesses.  I'll certainly forward your comment -- but their email address is on the cited site.

"The Blood Alliance first opened its doors as the Jacksonville Blood Bank in 1942. In the 1980's, The Blood Alliance expanded its community donor centers to include a location in southeast Georgia, and changed its name to Florida Georgia Blood Alliance (FGBA). In 2001, FGBA began serving Memorial Health University Medical Center in Savannah, GA and opened a Community Donor Center. We now also serve the Lowcountry area of South Carolina and are currently known as The Blood Alliance.
"We offer an in-depth brochure describing who we are, how we help, how we benefit you, reasons to donate, and other information that may interest you. You can download and print this brochure for your reference here. After all, "Isn't it time you get to know your community blood bank?"

[coredumped]

Thanks - I thought they were servicing SC, which I think is a bit weird, seems pretty far. But thanks for clarifying!

[macbeth25]

Here's the reply I got from my contact at the Blood Alliance:

From: Brad Billingsley
To: John McCoy <my_column1@yahoo.com>
Sent: Thursday, August 13, 2009 9:43:09 AM
Subject: RE: Clarification
John,
Blood Drawn here stays here. The other centers draw for the blood that they use. They hold drives just as we do with there own buses but like us here if we need help cause our donations are not as high as the usage then we will export them some blood. Just as we have to import blood from other centers when our donations are down.

If you'd like, you can contact him directly through the Blood Alliance website, or, let me have your email and I'll forward it to him. 

Thanks for your question and being a donor.  That makes you a hero in my eyes.  MAC