By APRil CALOW LL
•
•
By MAUREEN FERFOUA
c. 1�.'.N_.w�S.rvlpe
LANSING - Because of a
blood hortage acr th coun­
try, the American Red Cross is
encouraging Michiganians to
give t gift of life this holiday
sea on.
"Th is a shortage nation-
wide," said Teri Robinson, Red
Cross director of public rela­
tions for the Flint region. "De­
cemb r is always a critical time
for us to collect blood."
For example, Oakland, Ma­
comb, St. Clair, Washtenaw nd
Wayne counties are in gr t
need of blood, said Belinda
Pickle, Red Cross sistant di­
r ctor of public r lations for th
south astern region of Michi­
gan.
"We don't have enough blood
to meet ou r needs, " the ass is tant
director said. "Most 'major ur­
ban areas are not self suffi­
cient. "
Th region, which ha not
been reaching its goal of collect­
ing 5,500 units of blood per w k
to supply 54 hospitals, must
bring in additional uni from
el ewh reo
72, only 5 percent of t indi-
vidual regularly-donate blood.
Men, women nd childr n
may need blood for a variety of
reasons.
A case in point, Andy Huff­
man ofIndian River, 6, r eived
four pints of blood three years
ago when doctors repaired a
hole in her heart.
und r 11 t befo beingu
for transfusion.
Additionally, Pickl id th
Red Cro t up its recruiting
efforts rly in th holiday
on beeau m ny people t nd to
b bier than norm 1, on v ca­
tion or hav heduled urgery.
"In today' world, everyon
extra b y," Pickl aid.
PEOPLE SU ERING
from cancer, burns, hemophilia,
shock, an mia or hep titis could
need blood. Trauma victims,
premature babi or urgery pa­
tients also may n a transfu-
ion.
Observ rs said individuals
do not donate blood to hose in
need for a variety of reasons.
Because businesses ar
downsizing, less spa is avail­
able. Also, fewer people are able
to donate blood, Pickle said.
Some potential donors are
afraid to give blood, id Mary
Moffett, Red Cross director of
public support in Ann Arbor.
"People are uncomfortable
with the idea of it," Moffett re­
marked.
RA ATZ AG E D.
"Time i extr m ly pr iou
th edays."
On th other hand, 0
said h althy individual , who
mustb atl st 17y old and
weigh 110 pound , onat. bl
for veral re ons. Each dona­
tion can save up to four people
Many donors gi blood
. cause they know someon who
ha received blood in h p t.
For instan e, two childr n of
John Kr r, a retired Michigan
State University prof or who
has donated over 10 gallons of
blood, ha r i blood.
"Knowing b th of my kid.
needed it certainly i a motivat­
ing factor," Kr r sid. "It' a
ignificant contribu ion to
, health care. "
. AL OU id
eros con inu s 0 8 ure h
saf ty ofth ir blood supply, oth­
ers fear they ri k contracting a
disea e such as AID, aid
arah Raddatz, art Lak
Region chapter speci list.
"People are nervous about
that," Raddatz said.
Asiala agreed that f ar is still
out there, but said it was not
reasonable. Donated blood goes
E IO
bas d in Lansing and Flint are
facing a similar ituation.
"A lot of peopl ju t aren't
coming out to donate," aid Di­
an Asiala, community rela­
tions specialist of the Gr at
Lakes Regional Blood Services.
Although 95 percent of the
population will have received a
blood transfusion by the age of
R ,WH h I 0
a Red Cro volun­
t r for two y ars, id he be-
lieve p ople want to do
omethim for the community.
Pickl agre d. "1 t makes
them feel good," he said.
"Th y've n how th y can help
. people. "
Red Cros rep res ntative
are using a number of ways to
__ e wary of pbo e
pleas for donation
By TAMI L SLINGERLAND
Capital News Service
LAN ING - A.' the holiday season nears, p 0-
pi's gen r sity incr a -so, too, d th num­
ber of fraudulent telephone and door-to-door
solicitations that e k h fty contributions for ille­
gitimate caus .
Tel phon and door-to-door ales fraud are
among th most fr quently commit d crim sand
anyon can be targe for misrepr entative so­
licitation , warns the Michigan Sheriffs' Associa­
tion,
"Thi i th tim of year when ther ar more
olici tions and many of th m ar from legiti­
mat organiza ion ,It aid Chris D Witt, pok -
person for Attorney Gen ral Frank K lley
But the . is also an incr a e in groups calling
p opl for a fraudul nt c u h. id
"Ev ryon app 1 to the motion of the ea­
on," id Marc Harlow, public r lat ioi dir t r
for th M A.
H an iner a
lookin for funding,
u "Ther
ther wh
in all kin of grou
ially for humanitari n
organiz tion ou
rt tri n ," Harlow Aid
t ion
Alon WIth omplamt s ab 1I
gnnlzaflOn .. th n'1.'
> 1 n ru r- ro en II J'
their cause.
Harlow recounts a rent case involving a den­
tist's office in southeast Michigan. A solicitor
from a law enforcement agency k pt calling the
offic sking for money. By about the tenth call,
the olicitor was wearing At them for not contrib-
uting. .
"This has become a major complaint," he said.
"Th s people are acting downright rud and ag­
gr ive."
However, peopl can guard again t being vic­
tims of ales fr ud and qu stionabl olicitations.
B wary of phone olicitatio ,D Witt aid.
"If you contacted them, that i a diff rent tory.
If th y lled, you stay away."
encourag p ople to donate
blood.
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99
• TAnOODLES
j- I A es 4 u
ALL STAR TOYS
1999
. C. KATI KISS
'N' GIGGLES'
1