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HELP SAVE LIVES AT THE WAL BLOOD DRIVE

By Bob Lee, WAL Board Member and WAL Lions Club Secretary

Did you know only 38% of American Cross President Dr. Bernadine Healy friend or loved one.
are eligible to donate blood, and of described the shortage as “one of the
those only 10% actually do according most severe her organization had ever So please volunteer for this year’s
experienced with WAL Blood Drive scheduled for Sat-
many areas of the urday, March 30. The Inova Blood
country reporting Mobile will be in the Lower Parking
they had less than Lot in front of Building 1 adjacent to
one day’s inven- the putting green from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.
tory of blood on Just so you know, all blood collected
hand, an amount by Inova Blood Donor Services re-
inadequate to mains in the Inova Health Care System
meet hospital and its service area.
demands”. Ur-
gent messages For those with an e-copy of the March
were sent out to Wheel, simply click on this link and it
medical facilities will take you to the Inova Registration
to cancel elective page. Then just select a time, fill out
surgeries and the online form and voila—you’re
implement other good to go! Inova then sends you an
measures to con- email confirmation of your appoint-
serve existing ment within minutes.
supplies.
Blood donated to Inova Blood Donor Services remain in the Inova For those with print versions of the
system and its service area. Inova Blood Do- March Wheel, type in https://
nor Services, the inovabloodsaves.org/index.cfm?
to the American Red Cross? That’s an valued partner of the WAL Lions Club group=op&expand=21364&zc=22304
exceedingly small number when you for annual blood drives, issued its latest to access the registration page.
consider that 40,000 pints of blood are Current Community Blood Inventory
needed every day in the U.S. to treat Report on February 16, 2019. It Contact Bob Lee at 703-370-5636 or
patients and save lives. One thing is showed that inventories of various rlee1809@aol.com, Renee O’Brien at
for sure, the demand for life-saving blood types were often less than half 703-927-6922 or by email at
blood never ceases. the recommended levels. A single ma-

These figures from the Red Cross and Consider that 40,000 pints of blood are needed
the challenge they define explain why
there’s a chronic shortage of blood every day in the U.S….but only 10% of eligible
supplies and the ongoing appeals for
people to donate. This is not a manu- donors give blood.
factured crisis or a cynical PR gim-
mick. Rather, it’s an accurate reflection jor incident consumed the remaining reneeob44@gmail.com, any other Li-
that at any given moment available inventory. ons Club member or Activities Direc-
inventories of life-saving blood are tor Liz Phipps at 703-370-7092 or ac-
virtually depleted. This is true especial- There is simply no substitute for blood.
ly for rarer blood types, which often If we are to maintain adequate blood tivities@watergateatlandmark.com if
are the very ones most critically and supplies, then it is up to each of us who you encounter any problems or would
urgently needed. are able to donate blood. Your gift of prefer a time slot that appears to be
In February, the Red Cross and Ameri- blood may save the life of an accident fully booked.
ca’s Blood Centers reported severe victim, a cancer patient, a hemophiliac,
shortages of blood virtually unprece- a patient undergoing surgery, a preg- Hope to see you at the Blood Drive on
dented for this time of the year. Red nant mother or premature baby, a Saturday, March 30!

Page 6 Wheel March 2019