Community blood drive to be held at Lincolnton Baptist Sat.
(1) Get a good night's rest. The Lincoln County Community Blood Drive is set for Saturday, November 4, from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. in the fellowship hall at Lincolnton Baptist Church.

Sponsored by the Shepeard Community Blood Center, the goal for the drive is 30 donors.

"It's getting close to the holidays and we're already experiencing shortages of some blood types," said Linda Walker, recruitment coordinator for Shepeard. "We want to encourage all Lincoln County residents to roll up their sleeves and donate blood this Saturday. The lives of patients in our local hospitals depend on it!

"Each donor can save three lives," she continued. "What a wonderful gift to give others for the holidays. If we have been blessed with good health, we should pass it on by donating blood to those who need it simply to survive. Blood is truly the gift of life."

Walker went on to say that the ALYX machine will be on hand for ALYX double red cell donors.

Healthy individuals 17 years of age or older, weighing 110 pounds or more, who have not donated blood in the past two months are eligible to make a donation. Donors are asked to bring a picture I.D. or a donor card with them to the drive.

From beginning to end, the process takes less than half an hour, with all donors receiving free T-shirts and cholesterol screenings, if desired. Each donor will also be presented with a "Kiss the Donor" apron to enjoy throughout the holidays.

Tips that can help make blood donation an even better experience include:

(2) Eat breakfast.

(3) Drink plenty of fluids several hours before you donate blood.

(4) Relax!

The following Lincoln County residents donated blood to Shepeard during the July and September blood drives: Craig C. Jenkins, Robert T. Poss, Clifton J. Layton, Brenda M. Layton, Alton H. Danner, Jr., William L. Clary, John W. Spratlin III.

Kevin L. Bentley, Barbara M. Smith, Byron S. Baldwin, Barbara B. Doyle, Cherry M. Rowland, Dory A. Bentley, Andre M. Laplume, Gail E. Salmon, John M. Rhodes, Elizabeth B. Baker, Tangela G. McKinney, Barney A. Aycock.

Tammy B. Wright, Lamar Garrard, Jimmie A. Goldman, Ken Partridge, Rebecca R. Tarver, Wayne A. Beggs, Thomas C. Dent, Shelbye J. Reese, Tamara L. Abel, John R. Gunby, Richard L. Creswell, Glen E. Hardeman, Nancy B. Hardeman, Robin Y. Goldman.

Dedra S. Strickland, Sandra G. Staples, Jack G. Smalley, Bethanie M. Bridges, Bonny S. Rayner, Howie F. Gunby, Terri Ann Meredith, Christopher L. Reid, John W. Burgess, Tammy R. Smith, Joe F. Powell, Elizabeth P. Bentley, Barbara C. Ware, and Mary L. Glaze.

Some interesting facts about blood and blood donation are as follows:

There are four main blood types: A, B, AB, and O. Each blood type is either Rh positive or negative.

Blood is often separated into components, including red blood cells, platelets, and plasma. These components may be used together or separately to treat a patient.

More than 23 million blood components are made from 15 million whole blood donations every year.

Red blood cells can be stored for up to 42 days. Platelets can be stored for only five days; frozen plasma can be stored as long as one year.

Donating blood just three times a year may lower your blood pressure, reduce your risk of a heart attack by 50 percent, and lower your chances of developing colon, lung, bladder, and esophageal cancers by 40 percent.

Individuals can donate blood every eight weeks.

Whereas 60 percent of Americans are able to donate blood, only five percent actually do.

For more information about the blood drive, contact the Shepeard Community Blood Center at 1-706- 737-4551 or visit the organization's website at .