Last weeks program was provided by Rotarian Kayla Drawdy.  Kayla’s guest speaker was Chris Alfonso with OneBlood.  OneBlood is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) community asset responsible for providing safe, available and affordable blood to more than 200 hospital partners and their patients throughout most of Florida, parts of Georgia, Alabama, South Carolina and North Carolina.  OneBlood distributes nearly one million blood products annually, employ more than 2,000 people, operate more than 80 donor centers and deploy nearly 200 of the signature Big Red Buses throughout the service area for blood drives.  OneBlood has multiple laboratories, manufacturing and distribution sites strategically located throughout our service area enabling quick response to hospital needs and availability of blood products.  Safety of the blood supply is OneBlood’s top priority. Every unit of blood undergoes more than a dozen tests to ensure it is safe for transfusion. Regardless of where the blood is donated in the service area, all blood samples are delivered via a OneBlood courier to Creative Testing Solutions (CTS), our state-of-the-art testing facility in St. Petersburg, Florida.  The blood center is heavily regulated by The Food and Drug Administration (FDA). OneBlood is required to follow all FDA rules and are subject to planned and unplanned inspections to ensure complete compliance. Blood is essential to life. Blood circulates through our body and delivers essential substances like oxygen and nutrients to the body’s cells. It also transports metabolic waste products away from those same cells. There is no substitute for blood. It cannot be made or manufactured. Generous blood donors are the only source of blood for patients in need of a blood transfusion. Blood is made up of four main components. Red blood cells, platelets, plasma and white blood cells. Each whole blood donation has the potential to save up to three lives.  Many potential blood donors believe that they can’t donate blood due to medical or other reasons. But whether you’ve heard or read information about donation restrictions or been turned down in the past, please do not self defer. You may be able to say “Yes I can!” and share your power through blood donation. If you have questions about any of the subjects below, please contact OneBlood for more information.  Some of the misconceptions about the ability to give blood include: Anemia/Low Iron, certain Medications, High Blood Pressure, Diabetes, Cancer treatments, Tattos and Body Piercings, Age, Surgery or Minor Illnesses, Pregnancy or Travel/Former Residence outside the country.  Many of these issues can still result in the ability to give life saving blood. Hosting a Blood Drive is Fun, Easy and Rewarding!  Once you book the Big Red Bus®, leave the rest to OneBlood. They provide everything you need from start to finish. They even bring cookies, juice and a gift for each donor.  From schools to businesses, religious organizations to community gatherings, the Big Red Bus® can roll-up just about anywhere there are blood donors ready to save lives.  OneBlood makes hosting a blood drive easy by providing custom marketing material to promote the blood drive and easy online access for donors to make appointments.  Contact OneBlood.org for more information  - provided by Mike Arndt

Birthdays This Month

***************************************************

Club Anniversaries This Month