THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, July 3, 1994 TAG: 9407020154
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 05 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY PAM STARR, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 67 lines
The American Red Cross believes that real American heroes are the ones who donate blood regularly so that others may live.
But it would like to encourage these donors to give their blood around major holidays, when the demand is greatest because of car accidents, personal injuries and major emergencies. The Red Cross has launched a program called Holiday Heroes, which it hopes will accomplish that goal as well as attract new donors.
Robyn Klesath, public relations manager for the Red Cross, said that blood donor recruitment is difficult around the holidays because of donors' vacations and schedules.
``We just put out an appeal for blood donors,'' said Klesath. ``We really need type O and B blood very badly.''
Major holidays when blood is needed the most include the Fourth of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's Day, Easter and Memorial Day. New or regular donors can participate in the Holiday Heroes program by filling out a special card and selecting as many as four holidays that they could give blood (not on the holiday, but around that time). These donors, said Klesath, will be placed on a Holiday Heroes list that Red Cross volunteers will call to make an appointment within a few days of the holiday.
The Bloodmobile and routine donor sites are not open on holidays, but some sites will be collecting blood the week after Independence Day. On Tuesday, July 5, Sentara Bayside Hospital, 800 Independence Blvd., will be hosting a blood drive from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Lynnhaven Crossing Shopping Center, across from JC Penney's at the mall, has a routine collection site, where blood can be taken every Monday from 4to 8p.m (except on holidays), every Wednesday from 2:30 to 6:30 p.m. and every Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
For information on becoming a Holiday Hero, call 446-7765.
The American Red Cross believes that real American heroes are the ones who donate blood regularly so that others may live.
But it would like to encourage these donors to give their blood around major holidays, when the demand is greatest because of car accidents, personal injuries and major emergencies. The Red Cross has launched a program called Holiday Heroes, which it hopes will accomplish that goal as well as attract new donors.
Robyn Klesath, public relations manager for the Red Cross, said that blood donor recruitment is difficult around the holidays because of donors' vacations and schedules.
``We just put out an appeal for blood donors,'' said Klesath. ``We really need type O and B blood very badly.''
Major holidays when blood is needed the most include the Fourth of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's Day, Easter and Memorial Day. New or regular donors can participate in the Holiday Heroes program by filling out a special card and selecting as many as four holidays that they could give blood (not on the holiday, but around that time). These donors, said Klesath, will be placed on a Holiday Heroes list that Red Cross volunteers will call to make an appointment within a few days of the holiday.
The Bloodmobile and routine donor sites are not open on holidays, but some sites will be collecting blood the week after Independence Day. On Tuesday, July 5, Sentara Bayside Hospital, 800 Independence Blvd., will be hosting a blood drive from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Lynnhaven Crossing Shopping Center, across from JC Penney's at the mall, has a routine collection site, where blood can be taken every Monday from 4to 8p.m (except on holidays), every Wednesday from 2:30 to 6:30 p.m. and every Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
For information on becoming a Holiday Hero, call 446-7765. by CNB