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Published Monday, November 30, 2009 in Local

Newnan holiday blood drive Thursday

By Winston Skinner

The Times-Herald

The gift of blood is a gift of life.

Supplies of all types of blood are needed at hospitals around the country all year long, but the need often is greater during the holiday season. People who ordinarily give blood sometimes get busy with other activities. Cold weather in many parts of the country also cuts down on donor participation.

"The need for these valuable donations does not take a break for the winter holidays," said April M. Phillips, communications specialist with the American Red Cross Southern Blood Services Region office in Douglasville.

The American Red Cross Community Blood Drive in Newnan will be Thursday. Rita Talley of the Coweta County Chapter of the Red Cross advises those who normally drop in that the drive location has been changed because of a scheduling conflict. The December drive will be held at the Asa Powell Expo Center at 197 Temple Ave. in Newnan from 8 a.m. to 5:45 p.m. The center is adjacent to the Coweta Recreation Department.

Donors with appointment times will receive a reminder of the location change from Red Cross Blood Services. The community drive is normally held at First United Methodist Church.

Every two seconds, someone in the United States needs blood. The Red Cross Southern Blood Services Region provides lifesaving blood to more than 120 hospitals and must have 1,200 people give blood and platelets each weekday to meet hospital demand.

Accident victims as well as patients with cancer, sickle cell disease, blood disorders and other illnesses receive lifesaving transfusions every day. There is no substitute for blood and volunteer donors are the only source.

The Red Cross encourages people who are in good health to donate so that hospital patients have the blood or platelets they need to make a full recovery. Blood is needed to help treat a variety of patients including accident victims and individuals undergoing surgery and cancer treatment.

Blood can be safely donated every 56 days. Most healthy people age 17 and older, or 16 with parental consent, who weigh at least 110 pounds, are eligible to donate blood and platelets. Donors who are 18 and younger must also meet specific height and weight requirements.

"Thousands of people donate blood in our area each year, and their generous gift has helped save countless lives," Phillips said.

"With every donation, there's always a reason behind it. People donate blood because they care. People donate blood because they want to help save lives. But most importantly, people donate blood because they can," she added.

After the community blood drive on Thursday, there will be only three smaller drives in Coweta County before the end of the year -- on Dec. 22 and again Dec. 23 at the Coweta County Fire Department headquarters on Greison Trail and on Dec. 30 at Mt. Gilead United Methodist Church in the Raymond community between Newnan and Sharpsburg.

Blood drives will also be held in adjoining counties during December in Peachtree City, Fayetteville, Carrollton, Manchester, , Franklin, Griffin, LaGrange and Hogansville.

For more information or to schedule an appointment to give blood, visit GiveBloodRedCross.org .

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