Megan Wallace
Richmond County Daily Journal
Nearly 50 people turned out Thursday to donate blood at an American Red Cross blood drive held at Richmond Community College’s Cole Auditorium in Hamlet.
Tim Harris, of Ellerbe, the Student Activities Director at RCC, said he has been giving blood since he was a teen.
While munching on a snack provided by the Student Government Association, Harris said he has given 16 gallons of blood throughout his lifetime.
Helping with the blood draws was a nurse of 25 years, Dloris Nembhard. As she was preparing to draw blood from another donor, the woman from Indian Trail was asked why she wanted to help.
“It’s my heartbeat, because I want to do what I love,” said Nembhard.
Among others who were there, Richmond Early College High School students Meagan Bellamy and Jesse Laney showed up to help out.
The RCC Student Government Association also had volunteers on hand, including William Honeycutt.
While having her blood drawn, Kelsey Butler of Rockingham said she has donated many times in order “to save lives.” Butler said she’s taken part in five other blood drives.
Katherine Haire, of Ellerbe, was donating her blood and said she “was not nervous” to do so, and in fact this was her third time donating.
In all, 47 donors participated in the RCC drive, and some were encouraged to double the impact of their donation by giving two pints of red cells through “double red cell” donation.
Double red cell donation is similar to a whole blood donation, except a special machine is used to allow a person to safely donate two units of red blood cells during one donation while returning their plasma and platelets to them.
Whole blood donations contain red blood cells, platelets, plasma and white blood cells. Red blood cells are the most frequently used blood component and are needed by almost every type of patient requiring transfusion. If you meet certain criteria, double red cell donation allows you to safely donate two units of red cells during one appointment as an automated donation process. It is as safe as whole blood donation, according to the Red Cross.
For more information, visit the website www.redcrossblood.org/donating-blood/first-time-donors or www.redcrossblood.org/donating-blood/types-donations/double-red-blood-cells-donation.
— Megan Wallace is an intern working for the Daily Journal. She can be reached at 910-997-3111, or email to internmegan7@gmail.com.
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