(Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2005) ATLANTA - During the hustle and bustle of the holidays, please remember to take an hour out of your day to give the greatest gift of all -- a blood donation. Health emergencies do not take a holiday break and every day there are patients who must have transfusions to survive accidents, illnesses and injuries.

With no substitute for human blood, the only way to supply this precious human resource still is from volunteer blood donations. Please join our life-saving team by becoming a regular blood donor. Just one donation can help up to three patients.  

The American Red Cross is an essential partner to more than 140 hospitals in the Southern Region and needs your help, especially at the end of the year when there are fewer blood donations and frequent blood shortages. With your donation, you can help to ensure there will be enough blood available for patients this holiday season. Donors should also consider giving platelets, which are needed by cancer patients and others with serious blood diseases.

As long as you are healthy, weigh at least 110 pounds and are 17 or older, you can give blood every 56 days. Platelets can be donated once a week, up to a maximum of 24 times per year. Please call 1 800-GIVE LIFE or visit www.givebloodredcross.org  to find the blood drive or donor center that is most convenient for you.

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