Donating blood can be a worthwhile effort for someone looking to make a difference. Apart from the feeling of satisfaction, donating blood can help save the lives of up to three people.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services says every two seconds someone in the United States needs blood or blood products. When people think of donating blood products, they may think about donating whole blood. However, there’s a need for other components, namely plasma.

Whole blood donations include donating all four blood components: red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets and plasma. Whole blood is used to treat blood loss that occurs during an injury or surgery. Patients in need of plasma may have cancer, immunodeficiencies or rare diseases that can benefit from plasma treatment.

Blood can be donated once every 56 days. Individuals must be in good health, at least 16 years old in most areas, and must weigh at least 110 pounds.

All blood types can give plasma. Plasma can be donated once every 28 days. Good health is required and donors must be at least 17 years old and weigh no less than 110 pounds.
Donors also can donate red blood cells and platelets separately from whole blood or plasma. There are different eligibility requirements for these blood components.

Cape Fear Valley Blood Donor Center is a community blood program dedicated to serving the needs of patients in Cumberland, Hoke, Harnett and Bladen counties through blood donation by individual donors, community organizations and businesses.

The center is located at 3357 Village Drive in Fayetteville in the Bordeaux Shopping Center. It is open for donations Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and the third Saturday of each month from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. There are two blood mobiles out in the community for mobile blood drives.

The next opportunity to donate during a mobile blood drive is Thursday, Aug. 17 at Modern Woodmen of America, located at 3400 Walsh Parkway Ste. 219 in north Fayetteville. The event will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Those interested in donating can call 732-670-4659 for information.

The American Red Cross has seen a shortfall of about 25,000 blood donations in the first two months of the summer, which makes it hard to keep hospital shelves stocked with lifesaving blood products.

Right now, the Red Cross especially needs type O negative, type O positive, type B negative and type A negative blood donors, as well as platelet donors. For those who don’t know their blood type, making a donation is an easy way to find out this important personal health information. The Red Cross will notify new donors of their blood type soon after they give.

Those interested can schedule an appointment to give by downloading the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).

All who donate throughout the month of August will get a $10 e-gift card to a movie merchant of their choice. Details are available at RedCrossBlood.org/Movie.

There are two opportunities to donate at a Red Cross mobile blood drive in Fayetteville.

On Aug. 24 from noon to 6 p.m., donors can go to Carolina College of Biblical Studies located at 817 S. McPherson Church Road.

On Aug. 29 from noon to 6 p.m., donors can go to the American Red Cross Sandhills Chapter located at 807 Carol Street.

Donating whole blood, plasma and other blood products can make a difference in the lives of many.
Visit www.capefearvalley.com/blood/index.html or www.redcrossblood.org to learn more about becoming a blood donor.