Middle Georgia Technical College

MGTC's Phi Beta Lambda Club to Host Blood Drive

Warner Robins - Middle Georgia Technical College's Phi Beta Lambda club will host a blood drive for the American Red Cross from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday, February 10 in the lobby of the main building. All eligible donors are encouraged to participate.

Each quarter, PBL hosts a blood drive as part of the club's community service efforts. By taking a moment from your day to donate, you may be giving someone else a chance at life. A single blood donation can be separated into components, which can actually help more than one person. Accident victims and surgery and anemia patients can benefit from red blood cells, and platelets help with blood clot and are often used for cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. Also, plasma is often used to treat patients suffering from burns, shock or bleeding disorders.

Jackie Connors, the regional coordinator for the American Red Cross, sent out this message. "Due to severe weather in the Carolinas, the North, and the Midwest, we are being asked to send blood to these areas. We are asking each of our blood drives this week to try to bring in some extra donors to help us cover the needs in those other areas. Unfortunately, we normally import blood from these regions and now they aren't able to collect even what they need for their own use. We will have T-shirts for every donor."

Most healthy people can give blood every 56 days. In order to give blood, an individual must be at least 17 years old, weigh at least 110 pounds, and be in good general health. Donors should get a good night's sleep, eat a well-balanced meal and drink lots of fluids prior to donating.

The need for blood donations is crucial right now, especially type O. For more information, visit redcrossblood.org or call 800-GIVE-LIFE.