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Thursday, September 25, 2008

Blood Bank LOW on Blood and Platelets - Please Donate


My friend Mary Mount recently encouraged me to come by to Bank of the Redwoods while she donates platelets for cancer patients - get the story and tell our readers how much blood is needed. While I was there I met with Kent Corley the PR manager, and he gave me a good impression of our dire need for blood and platelets, especially with blood needed for Hurricane Ike victims and people injured by the train wreck in Los Angeles. The blood bank always takes care of local patients first and if it has excess inventory it can help those in need outside our community. Below is more information on how you can help - and who is eligible. I was amazed to learn that a mere 37% of the population can give blood. That makes keeping blood supplies full and available much more challenging. The information below comes from their web site - more later - V


Blood Brothers and Sisters
The common bond of blood unites us all. No matter who we are blood sustains us. Since it cannot be manufactured we rely on caring citizens to donate, forever connecting and changing lives with this simple act.

Every 15 minutes someone in our community requires lifesaving blood for a variety of reasons - traumatic accidents, surgery, and cancer treatments. Depending on the injury or form of illness, specific types of blood components are used. For instance, many cancer patients require platelet transfusions as part of their treatment. Platelets must be transfused within five days of donation, which means constant replenishment from dedicated donors is required.

The number of individuals in the U.S. who are eligible to donate blood is far smaller than previously believed - approximately 60 million fewer people. The new figures suggest that only 37 percent of the U.S. population is currently eligible to donate blood, and with anticipated demographic changes, that percentage is likely to drop.

"In the nearly sixty years of continuous operation in Sonoma County never has blood collection been more challenging than it is today," commented Public Relations Manager, Kent Corley. "The industry had the shared belief that 60% of the population was eligible to donate blood. With this new statistic, it makes a little more sense to me why we have had a hard time keeping up with demand. Add to that the huge number of layoffs we've seen over the past seven years in the local manufacturing sector and more in the mortgage industry just this week, you can easily see that we are fishing in a smaller and smaller pool."

As additional donor restrictions are implemented and the population ages, the country could lose more and more willing donors, which could pose an even greater threat to our national blood supply," said Karen Shoos Lipton, chief executive officer of AABB (formerly known as American Association of Blood Banks). "Ensuring an adequate supply of blood is increasingly more challenging, and these new data suggest it is extremely important that eligible donors give blood more frequently."

"Thank goodness for the people who donate on a regular basis," said Ryan Benjamin, Recruitment and Donor Services Manager. "We keep asking our existing donors to give more and they are tired of carrying the load.

Only 5% of our local population donates and that is unacceptable from a community that is so giving in other ways. I think there is a false sense of security out there - that someone else will donate. We need every person over the age of 17 (16 with parental and doctor's consent) to visit a blood drive to see if they are eligible. Some people know they are not eligible and that's fine. If you're not sure, please visit http://www.bbr.org/ and find a drive near you."

Blood Bank of the Redwoods
2324 Bethards Drive, Santa Rosa, CA 95405
(707) 527-5617

Here is the web page schedule - please visit it often as it is updated:
http://www.bbr.org/upcoming.aspx

09/25/08PetalumaPlaza North Shopping Center3:00 PM6:00 PM259 B North McDowell BlvdParking Lot
09/26/08PetalumaRedwood Business Park8:15 AM11:15 AM1310 Redwood WayParking Lot
09/26/08HealdsburgGrove Street Plaza9:00 AM11:00 AM511 Grove St.Parking Lot
09/27/08Santa RosaKawana Elementary Health Fair3:00 PM7:00 PM2121 Moraga Dr.Parking Lot
09/29/08Santa RosaFriedman's Home Improvement Ct4:00 PM6:00 PM4055 Santa Rosa Ave.Parking Lot
09/30/08PetalumaLucky - Lakeville4:00 PM7:00 PM939 Lakeville HighwayParking Lot
09/30/08SonomaMaxwell Village Shopping Ctr3:00 PM6:30 PM19111 Sonoma HighwayParking Lot
10/01/08HealdsburgLatter-Day Saints Church3:00 PM6:30 PM310 Powell AveCultural Hall
10/01/08CloverdaleCloverdale Fairgrounds3:00 PM6:00 PM1 Citrus Fair DrTea Room
10/01/08Rohnert ParkTCBY2:30 PM6:30 PM7285 Snyder LnParking Lot
10/01/08GratonGraton Fire Protection Dist3:30 PM6:30 PMNorth Main & Ross Rd.Parking Lot
10/02/08PetalumaG & G Market3:00 PM6:30 PM701 Sonoma Mountain PkwyParking Lot
10/02/08SebastopolO'Reilly Media9:30 AM12:30 PM1005 Gravenstein Hwy NParking Lot
10/02/08Santa RosaMarmot11:00 AM2:00 PM2321 Circadian WyParking Lot
10/04/08PetalumaPetaluma Theater District12:00 PM3:00 PMSuite 109 C StreetCorner of 1st & C
10/05/08PetalumaNew Life Christian Fellowship10:30 AM1:30 PM1310 Clegg St.Secondary Room
10/05/08HealdsburgHealdsburg District Hospital11:00 AM3:00 PM1375 University AveSouth Side of Main Entrance
10/06/08WindsorWindsor Regional Library3:00 PM6:00 PM9291 Old Redwood HwyConference Room
10/07/08PetalumaWashington Square Shopping Ctr3:00 PM6:00 PM373 South McDowell BlvdParking Lot
10/07/08Santa RosaSonoma County Water Agaency 7:30 AM10:30 AM2060 West College AveFinely Ctr Parking Lot
10/08/08Rohnert ParkLongs Drugs3:00 PM6:00 PM6378 Commerce BlvdParking Lot
10/08/08ForestvilleForestville Fire Dept4:00 PM7:00 PM6554 Mirabel Rd.Fire Station
10/08/08Santa RosaS.C.O.E.8:00 AM11:00 AM5340 Skylane BlvdParking Lot
10/09/08Santa RosaKaiser3:00 PM7:00 PM401 Bicentennial WyParking Lot
10/11/08CotatiOliver's Market10:30 AM2:00 PM546 E. Cotati AveParking Lot
10/11/08WindsorJohnson Pool & Spa11:00 AM2:30 PM9650 Old Redwood HwyParking Lot
10/12/08SebastopolSafeway10:00 AM2:30 PM406 North Main StParking Lot
10/12/08SonomaSafeway10:00 AM2:30 PM477 W NapaParking Lot
10/14/08Santa RosaSanta Rosa Marketplace3:00 PM6:00 PM1960 Santa Rosa AveParking Lot near Applebee's
10/15/08PetalumaLong's Drugs - E Washington2:00 PM6:30 PM365 East Washington St.Parking Lot
10/16/08PetalumaPetaluma Business Expo4:00 PM7:00 PM320 McDowell BlvdParking Lot
10/17/08Santa RosaRaley's3:30 PM6:30 PM1407 Fulton Rd.Parking Lot
10/18/08Rohnert ParkPacific Market11:00 AM4:00 PM901 Golf Course Dr.Parking Lot
10/19/08PetalumaCatholic Church of St. James8:45 AM12:15 PM125 Sonoma Mtn PkwyRoom 9
10/20/08PetalumaKaiser2:30 PM5:30 PM3900 Lakeville HwyParking Lot C

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