Newspaper Page Text
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♦ SATURDAY, JULY 28, 2007
Red Cross urges donors to find time to give blood
Special to the Journal
A health emergency is
happening to someone every
hour of every day and along
with it often comes the need
for blood, say Red Cross offi
cials. While enjoying sum
mer activities and planning
vacations, many people for
get that the need for blood
donations persists. With
the annual summer drop
in blood donations, the Red
Cross, according to the offi
cials, cannot meet local hos
pitals’ ongoing demand for
blood and is urging people
to take an hour to donate
right away.
“Blood donations decrease
during the summer, while
demand often increases,
resulting in severe blood
shortages that can com
promise patient care,” said
Candice Gulden, director
of communications for the
Red Cross Southern Region.
“Blood is needed today for
patients who must receive
transfusions and it will be
needed tomorrow and the
next day as well. Donors
must understand that the
need for more blood is never
HEBEUH
Immunizations Are Not Just For Kids
Most people remember be
ing a kid and making trips to
the doctor's office for routine
checkups. More often than not
such trips were nothing to look
forward to. A big reason for this
was immunizations - a painful
rite of passage that all children
had to endure at one time or an
other.
But as much as immunizations,
or shots, might be looked at as
a means of protecting children
from disease, adults should rec
ognize the necessity of continu
ing to get their immunizations as
well. While certain immuniza
tions need only be administered
once, according to the Agency
for Healthcare Research and
Quality (AHRQ) adults need to
stay on top of things with respect
to the following shots.
• Measles-Mumps-Rubella
Shot. Most people get this shot
when they’re young children. In
fact, most school boards man
date this shot be administered
before a child can enroll. Still,
14 *
“the people you trust, the technology you expect, the care you deserve!”
Dr. J. Mathis Dixon • Dr. Paul Smith
478-987-2020
1105 Morningside Dr.
Perry, GA 31069
Laura C. Koch, D.M.D., PC.
General & Cosmetic Dentistry
Dr. Laura C. Koch 1299 Russell Pkwy
478-923-6449
ending. One donation per
year is helpful, but it isn’t
enough.”
Because red blood cells
regenerate in the body, it is
safe for most healthy peo
ple to give blood every 56
days or six times a year.
Donations also can be made
of platelets, the blood com
ponent that enables clotting.
Platelets, which are often
needed by cancer patients
receiving chemotherapy, can
be donated every two weeks,
up to 24 times each year.
The American Red Cross
Southern Region needs
approximately 1,200 people
to donate blood each week
day to meet the needs of hos
pital patients. Most people
who are age 17 or older and
weigh at least 110 pounds
are eligible to give blood
every 56 days. There is no
substitute for blood and the
only source is from volun
teer donors.
Appointments for dona
tions can be made by calling
1-800-GIVE LIFE or by vis
iting www.redcrossblood.org.
There are 14 blood donor
centers across Georgia,
not everyone has necessarily
gotten the shot, which is typical
ly administered to toddlers who
are between 12 and 15 months
old and then again to children at
age 11.
Getting a measles-mumps-ru
bella shot is especially impor
tant for women, as failure to do
so can lead to birth defects if that
woman ever becomes pregnant
and contracts rubella. A preg
nant woman in her first trimester
who contracts rubella can make
her fetus susceptible to con
genital rubella syndrome (CRS),
which can result in defects such
as deafness, mental retardation
and malformation of the heart,
among other things. Still, rubel
la has largely been eradicated in
most developed countries, where
many people get their necessary
vaccinations while still a child.
• Tetanus-Diphtheria Shot. A
tetanus shot is another vaccina
tion most people associate strict
ly with childhood. But tetanus
shots should be received once
Advanced
Eyecare
CENT E R
• Crowns & Bridges • Gum Disease Treatment
• Cosmetic Dentistry • Dentures / Partials
• Root Canals • Emergency Services
Insurance Accepted
Participating Provider
United Concordia • Delta Dental
including the Macon dondr
center at 3755 Bloomfield
Road, Suite 128. In addi
tion, there are blood drives
coming up in the area, as
follows:
Blood Drive Schedule
Baldwin County:
Milledgeville
■ Today: Noon-5 p.m.,
Milledgeville Mall, 2400 N.
Columbia St.
■ Aug. 9; 10 a.m.-3 p.m.,
Central Ga. Technical College,
54 Hwy 22 West
■ Aug. 25: Noon-5 p.m.,
Milledgeville Mall, 2400 N.
Columbia St.
Bibb County: Macon,
Lizella
■ Tuesday: 3-8 p.m., Forest
Hills Umc, 1217 Forest Hills
Rd.
■ Aug. 8: 10 a.m.- 3 p.m.,
Central Ga. Tech- Bulding H,
3300 Macon Tech Drive
■ Aug. 8: 10 a.m.- 3 p.m.,
Fickling & Company, 577
Mulberry St.
■ Aug. 12: 10 a.m.- 3 p.m.,
Shree Umiya Mataji Temple,
4770 Raley Rd.
■ Aug. 13: 2-7 p.m., Martha
Bowman Umc- Fellowship Hall,
500 Bass Road
■ Aug. 14: 12:30-6 p.m.,
Vineville Umc, 2045 Vineville
every 10 years, regardless of age.
Thanks to tetanus vaccinations
being so widespread, the disease
is rare in more developed coun
tries. However, according to the
National Foundation for Infec
tious Diseases (NFID), tetanus,
also referred to as lockjaw, can
be contracted by people who fail
to get vaccinated. Tetanus can
negatively affect the central ner
vous system and while many as
sociate the disease with stepping
on rusty nails, tetanus bacteria
can enter the body through cuts
as small as a pinprick or scratch.
• Flu Shots. Recent flu shot
shortages made many people
think they need a flu shot. That’s
not necessarily the case. Accord
ing to AHRQ, people under age
50 generally do not need (lu vac
cinations. However, that isn’t
to say all people under age 50
shouldn’t get a flu shot. Those
who feel as though they suf
fer from the flu each flu season
would be wise to get a flu shot.
Also, people under age 50 who
HEALTH
Ave.
■ Aug, 20: 2-7 p.m., Martha
Bowman Umc- Fellowship Hall,
500 Bass Road
■ Aug. 20: 3-7:45 p.m.,
Vineville Umc, 2045 Vineville
Ave.
■ Aug. 29: 2-7 p.m., Christ
Episcopal Church, 538 Walnut
St.
■ Aug. 30: 2-7 p.m., Lizella
Baptist Church, 2950 S. Lizella
Rd. (Lizella)
Bleckley County:
Cochran
■ Aug. 6: 2-7 p.m., Cochran
Community- Bleckley County
Community Ctr., 420 Peacock
St.
Dooly County: Vienna
■ Aug. 10: 10 a.m.-3 p.m.,
Dooly County High School,
ROTC Building, 715 N. 3rd St.
(Hwy 41 N)
Houston County; Warner
Robins, Centerville, Perry
■ Thursday: 2-7 p.m., Edge
Fitness- Warner Robbins, 1827
Watson Blvd.
■ Aug. 6: 2:30-7:30 p.m.,
Christ united Methodist
Church, 511 Russell Pkwy
■ Aug. 16: 2-7 p.m., Shirley
Hills Baptist Church, 615
Corder Road
■ Aug. 28: 10 a.m.-3 p.m.,
Warner Robbins O’ Team,
suffer from lung, kidney or
heart disease or diabetes or can
cer might need to get a flu shot.
Healthcare workers as well as
HIV or AIDS patients are also
advised to get annual flu shots.
• Pneumonia Shot. Pneumonia
shots are typically most appro
priate for people age 65 and old
er, and should be received by all
people once they reach age 65.
However, similar to flu shots,
people suffering from other ail
ments where your immune sys
tem is weakened, such as HIV
or AIDS, should get pneumonia
shots regardless of age. Lung,
heart or kidney disease patients
also should get a pneumonia
shot.
• Hepatitis B Shot. Hepatitis B
shots are certainly not something
the general population needs to
be concerned about. However,
they are especially important for
anyone who has engaged in sex
ual intercourse with more than
one partner or someone infected
with hepatitis B or a sexually
Care...
at Houston M edical Center
*’SPH mm
151028
Amer Al-Rqfati, MD, FAAP
Kim T. Elevens, MO, FAAP
Santanu Das, MO
Alpkansa J. Erinjeri , MO, FAAP
David N. Harvey, MO, FAAP
Helen demise Moore, MO, FAAP
Kevin K. Nirhaum, DO, FAAP
Putanisamy Rajaxekaran, MO
Mansoor Salehhhai, MO, FAAP
Belinda MO, FAAP
lAirry O. Stewart, Jr., MO, FAAP
Steve Wade, MO, FAAP
1601 Watson Boulevard » Warner Robins • 975-5107 • www.hhe.ori*
Houston Mall, 233 N. Houston
Road
■ Aug. 16: 2-7 p.m., First
Baptist Church of Centerville-
Fellowship Hall, 108 Church St.
(Centerville)
■ Aug. 31: 2-7 p.m., Belk
Matthews Galleria Mall, 2950
Watson Blvd.
■ Aug. 15: 3-8 p.m., First
Baptist Church - Perry, 1105
Main St. (Perry)
■ Aug. 28:1-6 p.m., Westfields
School - Music Room, U.S. Hwy
41 South
Johnson County:
Wrightsville
■ Aug. 28: 8 a.m.-l p.m.,
Johnson County High School,
210 Trojan Way
Jones County: Gray
■ Aug. 14: 2-7 p.nv, Tri
County EMC- Gray Community,
310 W. Clinton St.
Laurens County: Dublin
■ Monday: 1:30-6:30 p.m.,
Laurens Co. Library, 801
Bellvue Ave.
■ Tuesday: 10 a.m.-3 p.m.,
Carl Vinson Hospital, 1826
Veteran’s Blvd.
■ Aug. 13: 10 a.m.-3 p.m.,
Fairview Park Hospital, 200
Industrial Blvd.
■ Aug. 15: 9 a.m.-2:30 p.m.,
2:30-7:45 p.m., Heart of Ga.
Tech- Student Center, 560
■EUUi
transmitted disease. In addition,
anyone who has injected street
drugs should get a hepatitis B
shot. Also, anyone whose job en
tails regular contact with blood
should receive a hepatitis B shot.
Due to the potentially deadly na
ture of hepatitis B, which can
cause liver failure, scarring of the
liver or liver cancer, and the suc-
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HOUSTON DAILY JOURNAL
July 2007
cess of proper treatment (most
people with limited infection
can fight off the disease within
a few months and develop an
immunity to last the rest of their
lives), the importance of getting
a hepatitis B shot is paramount
to anyone who fits the aforemen
tioned crijeria.
r
hildren are a gift and at Houston Medical
Center we give them special care when they’re sick.
Pediatric Services at Houston Medical Center provides
inpatient care for newborns to young adults. Children
receive care in a child friendly environment surrounded
by pediatric experts. Pediatric Services includes a new
eight-bed pediatric unit and a medical staff of pediatricians
all certified by the American Board of Pediatrics. Pediatric
Services is located on the second floor of the main hospital.
Pe d i ai~ri^
at Houston C**rr*«
Pinehill Road
■ Aug. 24: 2-7 p.m., Graham
Brothers Construction, 1109
Hwy 29 S.
Peach County: Byron
■ Aug. 7: 2-7 p.m., Byron
United Methodist Church, 103
W. Heritage St.
Pike County: Zebulon
■ Aug. 13: 2-7 p.m., A. B.
Edwards Senior Center, 2488
Hwy 19 North
Putnam County:
Eatonton
■ Wednesday: 12:30-5:30p.m.,
City Hut/ Eatonton Community,
400 W. Marion/LaFayette St.
Spalding County: Griffin
■ Monday: 8 a.m.-lp.m.,
Griffin Technical Institute
■ Aug. 16:2-7 p.m., Griffin
Moose Lodge No. 1503, 1435
Zebulon Rd.
■ Aug. 21: Noon-6 p.m.,
Griffin Community- First
Baptist Church, 106 W. Taylor
St.
■ Aug. 23: 10 a.m.- 3 p.m.,
Georgia Experiment Station,
Stuckey Audtrm., 1109
Experiment St.
Wilkinson County:
Gordon
■ Aug. 20: 2-7p.m., Gordon
UMC, 130 Main St.
51016