CityView Magazine

CityViewNC.com | 37 Lake said the process doesn't hurt and leaves him feeling fine. Oen, he goes and plays golf aerwards. "It's a worthy cause," he said. "Not many people do it." Blood donation benefits heavily outweigh the costs. Apart from the altruistic motives, it's a free mini-check up with vital signs measured, hemoglobin check and your blood is screened for infectious diseases. Volunteers should not donate to get their blood tested, but it certainly is an added benefit. Graham said the donation process is a great way for men to help prevent the accumulation of overly high iron levels. It's estimated that 1 in 7 patients in the hospital need a blood transfusion or blood product. While you may not ever need blood, volunteer blood donors provide reassurance the supply is there if you do. Although all blood types are needed, the center oen has a shortage of volunteers with type O blood, particularly those with O-negative blood, called the universal blood type because it can be given to anyone. Graham said O-negative supplies are essential, particularly for trauma patients and babies in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Cape Fear Valley Blood Donor Center also offers directed donations. is is where you may have a family member or friend in the hospital and you can donate your blood to be saved for that person. If your directed recipient doesn't need a transfusion or if you aren't a match, your blood will be saved to help another patient. Whole blood donations are good for up to 42 days and can be donated every 56 days while platelet donations last 5 days but can be donated every 2 weeks. Most businesses hosting a blood drive allow their employees to donate on the clock. Cape Fear Valley rewards its full-time employees who donate at least four times a year with paid time off. "By applauding our employees in this way it helps show businesses or churches who host drives that they too can do something special to recognize their donors for giving back to their community," Graham said. "We don't have to push the act of donation to our employees as much as others because they've seen first-hand how important it is, and that their blood truly saves lives." Crawford, the nurse, said that's indeed an impetus for her regular donations. "I see the people who really need it," she said. Graham said blood donation isn't just about compassion. "It's a civic duty," she said. "is was something that was engrained in our parents' and grandparents' generations and now it's not as prevalent." I feel lucky since I have never yet needed a transfusion of blood or a blood product, like platelets. I also feel great that I've given blood that will help someone else in need. It's the easiest and perhaps the most valuable gi I'll give this season. And it didn't cost me a cent. For information on how you can donate and on the locations and dates of local blood drives, visit the blood donor center's website – savingliveslocally.org – or check its Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/ CapeFearValleyBloodDonorCenter. To schedule a group donation or request the bloodmobile, call Cape Fear Valley Blood Donor Center at 910-615-5433. "At our hospital, as in life, compassion is our passion." Cross Creek Animal Hospital 2147 Skibo Road Fayetteville, NC 28314 910.868.1164 crosscreekanimalhospital.com Dr. Shannon M. Poole, DVM Dr. Ryan T. Reid, DVM Dr. Erica Y. Richardson, DVM Caring for Your Pets

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