Blood drive event to take place June 19 in Fort Scott

Fort Scott, Kan. -- Bourbon County residents are being asked to spend about one hour of their time to rock and roll.

From 1 p.m. to 7 p.m., on June 19, the Bourbon County Chapter of the American Red Cross is conducting a "Rock and Roll up Your Sleeves" blood drive event at Buck Run Community Center, 735 Scott Avenue.

According to a press release from the American Red Cross, donating blood can help create music in someone's life. As an added incentive, the American Red Cross will be distributing rocker-style T-shirts to blood donors. Also, blood donors will have a chance to win an authentic Lynyrd Skynyrd platinum album.

Because summertime brings with it an increase in the number of family vacations and travel, the need for blood is higher this time of year. According to the American Red Cross Web site, www.givelife2.org, a single car accident victim can need up to 100 units of blood.

Car accidents are not the only reason a person may need to receive units of blood. According to the Red Cross, there were 14 million blood transfusions in 2001. Also, one out of every 10 people who are admitted to the hospital are in need of blood. Patients who have Sickle Cell disease, which totals more than 80,000 people in the United States, require frequent blood transfusions throughout their lives. In addition, more than one million new patients are diagnosed with cancer each year, many of whom will require repeated blood donations during their chemotherapy.

A healthy donor who is at least 17 years old and weighs more than 110 pounds may give blood once every 56 days, the Red Cross said. Adding that, blood cannot be manufactured; it can only come from blood donors. Since shortages of all blood types usually occur during the summer and winter holidays, the Red Cross is urging people to take part in its "Rock and Roll up Your Sleeves" blood drive.

"In recent years, summer months have been particularly difficult on the community's blood supply, and the Red Cross urges not only rockers but everyone to call (800) 448-3543 or visit www.givelife.org to make an appointment to help save a life," the Red Cross press release said.

"In less than the time it takes to listen to Lynyrd Skynyrd's 'Second Helping' platinum album that the Red Cross is raffling away to presenting donors, you can help save the lives of up to three people...Only at the Red Cross can you help save a life and maybe win a Lynyrd Skynyrd platinum album."

The Red Cross blood program, which started in 1940, supplies approximately 45 percent of the nation's blood supply, and provides blood for patients in about 3,000 hospitals throughout the United States.