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Kick Off to Summer Blood Drive

By WKRG Staff

Published: Mon, June 04, 2007 - 5:06 am

Summer is a critical time when it comes to blood supplies along the Gulf-Coast. Students account for 21 percent of the donor population. When they're not in school, they're usually not in line to donate blood. Maybe it's time you thought about giving the gift of life. Lawrence Crompton has been donating for 30 years.- You might say he's pretty comfortable in the donation chair and he's happy to be here. "Why not," he says. "It takes a couple of minutes every couple of months and it helps people"

This time of year regular donors like Lawrence are truly lifesavers. This is a time when donations dip and the demand goes up.

Evan Duffy with the American Red Cross says it's a dangerous situation our area faces every year. "About 60 percent of people in Alabama are eligible to donate blood and only about 4 percent of us do. That's something we face all the time."

According to the Red Cross, there are two main reasons people don't give blood. One is the fear of needles.

Lawrence Crompton says the needle is nothing."You know it's not really that big a deal. It's one needle and you're done."

People also commonly report that they just never really think about it. Think about this: The Red Cross calls summer "trauma season." Every 2 seconds someone in the U.S. needs blood. One day that someone in need could be you or someone you love.

If you're 17 or older, weight at least 110 pounds and you're in good heath, you could be a donor. "I think in the back of our minds we all know there is a need for blood all the time," explains Evan Duffy. "But just making time, our lives are so fast paced nowadays, that just breaking away and getting that hour to go do it is something that's extremely difficult."

Maybe so, but Lawrence Crompton says it's a cinch once you find the time.

We hope to see you this Friday for the Kick Off To Summer Blood Drive. To get involved, just go to the Target Wing of Colonial Mall Bel Air in Mobile or the Daphne Civic Center from Noon to 6 in the evening. Special thanks to our co-sponsors: Blue Cliff Career College, Blue Bell Ice Cream and the American Red Cross.

For a look at upcoming blood drives in our area, go to http://redcrossgulfcoast.org/a.htm