Blood drive at UWG for Aimee Copeland
From Staff and Wire Reportsnews@newnan.com
The University of West Georgia’s Department of Psychology at the Carrollton campus and the Shepeard Community Blood Center are teaming up for a blood drive to benefit Aimee Copeland.
Copeland is the UWG graduate student who contracted necrotizing fasciitis, a rare flesh-eating bacterial infection, after she fell into the Little Tallapoosa River on May 1. Copeland, 24, has already lost most of her left leg and will lose her fingers. Doctors hope to save the palms of her hands, which could allow her to someday use prosthetics, her father said in an online update.
The blood drive will be in the Campus Center at UWG in Carrollton on Tuesday, May 15, from 2 to 7 p.m. These donations will be credited to Copeland regardless of blood type. Donors are asked to bring their donor blood cards or picture ID.
Additionally, Shepeard Community Blood Center advises that all donors be at least 17 years old. If donors are16 years old, they must have written parental consent. Consent forms will be available. All donors must be in good health and weigh at least 110 pounds. These are FDA requirements to ensure the safety of the donor.
The tips below will prepare donors to give blood:
- Get a good night's rest.
- Eat a healthy meal before donating.
- Drink plenty of fluids before and after your donation.
- Eat iron rich foods like red meat, fish or poultry.
- Wear clothing with sleeves that can be raised above the elbow.
- Relax.
- Avoid strenuous physical activity for a few hours after your donation.
Visitors to the UWG campus are asked to park in the lot behind the campus bookstore. Go across the street and through the TLC building, the Campus Center will be on your right. For a map of the campus, go to: http://www.westga.edu/index_map.php .
