PRACTICALLY ACTIVE

Blood donations to Red Cross slow to a trickle

Some of you may remember that I wrote about blood donation last year. It’s a topic I’m passionate about and something I’m proud to do for others. It is, after all, hard to be active without enough blood in our bodies.

I’ve seen TV commercials lately that feature people who have benefited from blood transfusions. It turns out one of them is an Arkansan. I was tooling around RedCross.org when I ran across her story and recognized the photo from television.

One of the other reasons I remember her is that her mother’s impassioned testimonial has caused me to tear up practically every time I see the commercial.

But just who is she?

Lindsay Crowder of Bentonville is a lovely, energetic young gal who received blood transfusions to save her life after she was diagnosed with leukemia, first at 2 years old and again when she relapsed at age 6. During her relapse, she spent more than 130 nights in the hospital and received more than 100 transfusions of blood and platelets.

According to the website, the experience turned this family into regular blood donors.

For the last couple of months I have been receiving fliers and emails from the Red Cross encouraging me to donate blood. Looking at news articles and postings online, I see that this is the time of the year when donations slow to a trickle.

Snow, ice and bad weather are often the culprits that keep folks indoors and out of Red Cross centers. But the inclement weather can and does lead to auto wrecks, which in turn means someone somewhere may need a transfusion.

And with warmer weather heading our way, the same will be true. When people are outdoors doing summer activities there are going to be mishaps. It’s then that we really do need more blood donors to step in and help.

If you are are at least 17 years old and weigh at least 110 pounds, you might be eligible to donate once every 56 days. But there are reasons healthy people might not be able to give, and they are covered in the literature we read when we go to donate and at the Red Cross website.

Diabetics are eligible as long as they meet the requirements and their blood glucose levels are being controlled by insulin or oral medications.

(I’m not trying to guilt or shame anyone who can’t physically donate or who is just not comfortable with the process. There are so many other ways we can still help people in this world.) There are donation centers as well as mobile blood drives. For information or to find a donation center or blood drive near you, go to RedCross.org/Arkansas.

I happened upon a blood drive a couple of Saturdays ago at Walgreens in Sherwood. I almost missed it because the donation station is housed in what appears to be a long horse trailer and it took a minute to notice the Red Cross logo on the side.

I went in and donated. The trailer was a bit rustic compared to the donation centers and bus-type vehicles I’m familiar with. The friendly folks did assure me that they are getting a newer, nicer one soon, so I’m glad for them. There are a lot of little things that go into the process of donating, and adequate room to do them in is a plus.

If nothing else, donors get a snack and beverage when they are through. Walk with a Doc In late 2012 I wrote about the launch of the Fit Heart Mall Walkers at McCain Mall in North Little Rock. It’s sponsored by Arkansas Heart Hospital.

Their events take place from 7 to 10 a.m. on the first Friday of each month at the mall. The free program offers benefits such as blood pressure and blood sugar screenings, heart-healthy recipes, fitness tips, body mass index (BMI) screenings and incentives for walking.

A new Heart Hospital program is being rolled out Tuesday called Walk With a Doc. They are starting at McCain Mall and hope to branch out to other malls eventually.

Walk With a Doc was created by Dr. David Sabgir, a board-certified cardiologist who practices with Mount Carmel Clinical Specialists at Mount Carmel St. Ann’s in Columbus, Ohio.

So why did he create it?

Sabgir was tired of trying to get his overweight patients to exercise.

He started asking his patients to meet him at a chosen location to walk for an hour. Before he knew it, patients were coming out to walk and bringing their friends.

It’s now a nonprofit organization that promotes the benefits of walking, and other physicians and health-care professionals have gotten on the bandwagon. The program’s mission is “to encourage healthy physical activity in people of all ages, and reverse the consequences of a sedentary lifestyle in order to improve the health and well-being of the country.” Vicki Wingfield, community relations director at the Heart Hospital, reached out to let me know about the program, and the four local cardiologists who are working with it.

The schedule and doctors:

First Tuesday of each month it’s Dr. Joseph Forney. The Hannibal, Mo., native is board certified in internal medicine and cardiovascular disease. Forney’s hobbies include exercise, playing with his grandchildren and showing Quarter Horses.

Second Tuesday of each month it’s Dr. Erick Araneda. He’s originally from Guatamala, and his practice includes diagnostic and interventional cardiology. His personal interests include mountain biking, road cycling and triathlons.

Third Wednesday of each month it’s Dr. Andrew Henry. He attended the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and was ranked first in his graduating class. Henry is board certified in general and interventional cardiology.

Fourth Tuesday of each month it’s Dr. P.J. Flaherty. A native of Pittsburgh, Flaherty is board certified in internal medicine and cardiovascular medicine. He has clinics in Russellville, Searcy and Fordyce.

The doctors will walk for an hour with whoever shows up. And it’s open to anyone.

The action will begin in the center or food court area on the mall’s lower level, where a representative from the hospital will greet the walkers and introduce that week’s doctor.

Blood pressure screenings will also be done at each event.

For more information on Walk With a Doc, go to walkwithadoc.org.

Email me at: rboggs@arkansasonline.com

ActiveStyle, Pages 30 on 03/03/2014

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