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"A Family Tradition for 134 Years" PORT PERRY STAR - Tuesday, December 7, 1999 - 3 Clinic here part of blood service's holiday blitz By Jeff Mitchell Port Perry Star Would you be willing to give up an hour of your time if it might save a life? How about four lives? That's the essence of an appeal being made this month by Canadian Blood Services (CBS) as they launch a donor blitz in the area, including at tomorrow's blood donor clinic at the Port Perry Masanic Hall, on Queen t It is hoped that 160 units of blood can be col- lected at the clinic, which runs from noon until 8 p.m., said Paula Donnelly, a clinic recruit- ment coordinator with the CBS. The Port Perry clinic is one of dozens being held during the month, during which the service wants to collect 8,000 units of blood as part of its Light Up A Life campaign. The Toronto Centre region, which includes Port Perry, encompasses 59 hospitals in communi- ties from Napanee to Oakville, and north to Huntsville. There is always a need for a fresh blood supply at those hos- pitals, but it peaks during the holidays, said Mrs. Donnelly. "There's a huge increase of traffic on the streets and highways, and that means there is a higher incidence of seri- ous accidents which will result in people needing blood," she said. Add to that the contin- uing need of cancer patients for transfusions, and the requirements for emergency surgery and transplants, and the need for a fresh blood supply becomes quite acute at this time, she said: "It doesn't stop during the holidays." Each unit of blood col- lected is broken down into four components, all of which are used in the treatment of either trau- ma patients, or those undergoing treatment for cancer or leukemia. The Toronto Centre region includes some of the province's busiest hospitals -- including institutions like Sunnybrook, a trauma centre to which many accident victims are taken -- so the demand for blood here is quite high, said Mrs. Donnelly. "That's why we're always in more need than any other centre," she said. Fortunately for the CBS, blood donations are beginning to increase once more. In the wake of tainted blood scandals involving the Red Cross, donations dropped off sharply. But the creation of a new agency -- the CBS -- and the imple- mentation of an aggres- sive campaign to attract new and established donors, is bringing more people back to the clinics, said Mrs. Donnelly. In addition to tomor- row's clinic at the Masonic Hall, a clinic is being held Dec. 13 at Port Perry High School. The OAC business adminis- 20: tration class has taken on the task of promoting the event, and it's hoped a lot of first-time donors will give blood. Mrs. Donnelly made a presentation to the stu- dents in November. She sald her reception at PPHS and other schools in the region has been encouraging, because the CBS needs to attract a new generation of donors. "This is peoples' lives we have at stake," she said. "We've got to bring in this blood." A visit to tomorrow's clinic at the Masonic Hall all men's, women's and kids' sleepwear, robes & slippers sale ends Dec. 24/99 View the winners of our Millennium Makeover Contest Saturday Dec. 11/99 at 2pm Hair & Makeup by David's Hairstyling Before & After Photos by Veni Vedi Wardrobe by BROCK'S BR@CK'S for Kids Free Gift Wrapping 168 - 178 Queen Cor Port Perry AINE REVAYA | -- it's at 230 Queen St. -- will take about an hour. That's because of the screening process involved. Mrs. Donnelly said she's aware that may cause some inconve- nience, but hopes donors will never the less set aside the time to give the MY ww gift of life. "We have to do these things," she said of the process. "We have to ensure the safety of the blood reach- ing patients. "Can you spare some time to save a life is what it comes down to." HILFIGER Uap ypoigep pr ER Cider & Goodies on Veekends ab Atma ee let: uct = a A TE TE We