Up and Coming Weekly is a weekly publication in Fayetteville, NC and Fort Bragg, NC area offering local news, views, arts, entertainment and community event and business information.
Issue link: http://www.epageflip.net/i/1365823
WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM APRIL 28 - MAY 4, 2021 UCW 11 EVENT Cape Fear Valley Blood Donor Center faces critical shortage a STAFF REPORT e Cape Fear Valley Blood Donor Center is holding multiple blood drives this month to combat the continuing critical shortage of do- nated blood. Officials warn that Cape Fear Val- ley Blood Donor Center has reached the lowest level of supply for crucial Type O- and Type O+ blood the health system has seen since the pandemic started. e health system is urg- ing residents in Cumberland, Bladen, Harnett and Hoke Counties to donate blood at one of several local blood drives. e health system considers a "critical" level of blood supply to be less than three days, but the center currently has less than a one- day supply of Type O+ and Type O- blood. While all blood types are accepted for dona- tion, these blood types are particularly use- ful because they can be used in emergency situations and for all trauma patients as well as neonatal babies. Type O- is the universal blood type, which can be transfused to all blood types, regardless of the recipient's blood type. Type O+ is the most common blood type people have in the United States. "Because of COVID, we've been battling ur- gent shortages on and off since last year," said Cape Fear Valley Blood Donor Center Manager Amy Fisher. "But in the last couple of months our urgent shortage has become even more critical. We are the sole providers who supply all the hospitals in the Cape Fear Valley Health system and our blood donors save lives across the region." Cape Fear Valley Health System is the 8th largest regional health system in North Caroli- na with more than 1 million inpatient and out- patients annually. A private not-for-profit orga- nization, it includes Cape Fear Valley Medical Center, Highsmith-Rainey Specialty Hospital, Cape Fear Valley Rehabilitation Center, Be- havioral Health Care, Bladen County Hospital, Hoke Hospital, Health Pavilion North, Health Pavilion Hoke and Harnett Health. For more information, visit www.CapeFearValley.com. "At last count, there are only nine units of O positive blood left for patients at Cape Fear Valley Health," Fisher said last week. "at's nine units of O positive for the entire health system, which uses the blood in Cumberland, Bladen, Hoke and Harnett counties." Fisher said the Blood Donor Center has 35 units of O-, which is still considered a short- age. One patient could deplete that supply. "One person has about 12 units of blood in their body. If only one person needed a total blood transfusion, we would run out of O+ blood to transfuse," Fisher said. Donating blood is a selfless act that saves lives. Blood donors recognize the vital role they play in patient care, but some may won- der if it's safe to donate blood during the pan- demic. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, it is safe for anyone who is well to donate blood. at even goes for people who are social distancing due to COVID-19. Blood donors can find a blood drive near them by checking www.savingliveslocally. org/blood_drives.aspx. No appointment is needed. Donors can also visit the Blood Donor Center at 3357 Village Drive, Fayetteville, in the Bordeaux Shopping Center. It is open for dona- tions Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and the third Saturday of each month, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. For more information, please call 910-615-LIFE (615-5433). e Blood Donor Center offers enticements to encourage donors to lend a vein, such as a COVID-19 antibody screening. Swag varies by location and event, but donors have recently received a free T-shirt and coupons for a free pizza from Papa Murphy's in Fayetteville. Local high school students who donate can enter to win a car from Powers Swain Chevrolet. Friends and family members of high school students can also donate on their high school student's behalf to earn additional entries for their student in the drawing. A winner in the car drawing will be chosen July 26 at Powers Swain Chevrolet. Below is a listing of scheduled mobile blood drive locations. Updates are posted on the website. April 28: Tony Rand Student Center/FTCC, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., 2201 Hull Road, Fayetteville April 29: Stoney Point Fire Depart- ment, 5-9 p.m., 7221 Stoney Point Road, Fayetteville,910-424-0694 April 30: American Freight, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., 1240 Ireland Drive, Fayetteville April 30: West Park Apartments, 4-6:30 p.m., 5600 Fountain Grove Circle, Fayetteville, 910- 779-0580 May 1: Highland Centre, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., 2550 Ravenhill Drive, Fayetteville, 910-223- 0765 May 4: Anderson Creek Fire Department, 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., 6200 Overhills Road, Spring Lake, 910-497-1157 May 5: South Main Apartments, 1-4 p.m., 4003 William Bill Luther Drive, Hope Mills May 7: Chick-Fil-A Ramsey, 1-3 p.m., 4611 Ramsey St., Fayetteville, 910-488-1907 e Cape Fear Valley Blood Donor Center is at its low- est level of supply for crucial blood types O- and O+ since the pandemic began a year ago. While all blood types are needed, these types can be used for all trauma patients.