PUBLIC HEALTH Carter BloodCare asks for extra donations with school out
2023 HEALTH CARE EDITION
BY COLBY FARR
also operates mobile blood drives throughout the region. In addition to being used for emergencies, blood must be readily available for medical procedures, Black said. This includes treatments for major crash and severe trauma patients, those undergoing cancer treatments and more. Potential donors can learn more about donating blood at www.carterbloodcare.org. Donors can schedule appointments to donate blood, plasma or platelets at any of Carter BloodCare’s locations. Donors must be age 16 or older, weigh at least 110 pounds and be in general good health, according to Carter BloodCare’s website. The closest donation center for Lewisville and Coppell residents is the Carter BloodCare location in Flower Mound, located at 2601 Flower Mound Road.
With students out of school for summer break in local districts— and families preparing for vacations—Car- ter BloodCare o cials are reminding people to continue donating blood when they can. Since high school blood drives, speci cally, account for about 25% of the region’s blood supply, donations typically drop as students go on sum- mer break, said James Black, Carter BloodCare senior public relations specialist, in an email. The demand for blood, platelets and plasma “never takes a break though,” he said. “Summer is a crucial time for the local blood supply,” Black said. Carter BloodCare is a nonpro t operating more than 20 donor centers throughout the Dallas-Fort Worth area, including locations in Frisco, McKinney, Plano and Flower Mound, according to its website. The nonpro t
Carter BloodCare o cials are asking for donations in Dallas-Fort Worth during the summer months. (Courtesy Carter BloodCare) SHELF LIFE One pint of whole blood contains multiple components that can be used in di erent situations.
Color: red Shelf life: 21-35 days Storage conditions: refrigerated Key uses: trauma, surgery WHOLE BLOOD Color: yellowish Shelf life: 1 year Storage conditions: frozen Key uses: burn patients, shock, bleeding disorders PLASMA
RED CELLS
Color: red Shelf life: up to 42 days
Storage conditions: refrigerated Key uses: trauma, surgery, anemia, blood loss, blood disorders
PLATELETS
Color: colorless Shelf life: 5 days
Storage conditions: room temperature Key uses: cancer treatments, organ transplants, surgery
SOURCE: AMERICAN RED CROSS COMMUNITY IMPACT
THE COLONY 4901 Hwy 121 (214) 469-2113
LEWISVILLE 2416 S Stemmons Fwy (214) 488-0888
IRVING 1900 Market Place Blvd (214) 379-4695
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