Blood Drive March 10

At Trinity

Low blood donor turnout during the recent snowstorms has seriously depleted the supply available to hospital patients in Connecticut. In response, an American Red Cross blood drive will be held at Trinity Church in Newtown on Monday, March 10, from 1:30 pm to 6:45 pm.

The Red Cross is urging volunteer blood donors across Connecticut to make appointments to help alleviate the shortage of blood platelets. For an appointment call 800-433-1879 (800-GIVE-LIFE) or visit the website at bloodct.org.

Blood donors must be healthy, at least 17 years old, weigh at least 110 pounds, and not have given blood within the past 56 days. Less than a pint is taken; adults usually have 10–12 pints in their body. It takes about 24 hours for the body to replace the blood volume or plasma. Donors should drink extra nonalcoholic fluids and get a good night’s sleep the night before.

Lynn Townshend, communications manager for the Red Cross Connecticut Blood Services Region, hosted “Blood Watch,” a program taped in Newtown and now being aired on Charter Communications’ public access television Channel 21. Featured on the program are four Red Cross staff members who were interviewed on such topics as how to donate, the benefits of donating, blood processing, and benefits to the eventual recipients. The 30-minute program will air at 4 pm on march 7, 1:30 pm on March 12,  5:30 pm on March 13, and 8:30 pm on March 14.

Last Saturday President George W. Bush signed a proclamation declaring March 2003 as Red Cross Month, stating “…the Red Cross is a vital partner with the Department of Homeland Security in empowering individuals and families to protect themselves and be prepared for the unexpected.”

Since 1943, each President of the United States has proclaimed March to be “Red Cross Month” to recognize the lifesaving efforts of the organization. Although the Red Cross is not a government organization, the US President serves as its honorary chairman.

On February 20, the American Red Cross launched a nationwide campaign to help Americans prepare for emerging threats and disasters before they happen. The Together We Prepare campaign encourages individuals and families to take five proactive steps toward safety. (See separate story.)

“Now more than ever Americans are concerned about personal safety and this campaign will offer individuals, families and communities peace of mind by providing proactive steps they can take to prepare for any type of disaster,” said Marsha J. Evans, president and CEO, American Red Cross. “These actions will help make our communities safer and connect people directly to the lifesaving work of their local Red Cross.”

The Red Cross annually mobilizes relief to the victims of more than 63,000 disasters nationwide, and has been the primary supplier of blood and blood products in the Untied States for more than 50 years. It is the largest supplier of blood plasma and tissues services, providing almost half of the nation’s blood supply and one-fifth of the tissue for transplantation.

Additionally, the Red Cross trains more than 11.7 million people each year in vital lifesaving skills, provides direct health services to 2.5 million people and supplies more than 24 million locally relevant community services.