Give a Pint, Save a Life | Bloodmobiles bring you the chance to make a difference The Community Blood Center is retiring its bloodmobiles – not the concept, just the vehicles. NCH blood drives will still occur regularly out in the community, but after more than 23 years and countless donations, the two original buses will be replaced by shining new state-of-the-art equipment. The bloodmobiles represent one of the most visible and vital community outreach programs of the NCH Healthcare System. “There is no substitute for red cells,” said Laura Rosen, Community Relations Manager for the NCH Community Blood Center. “Red blood cells,” she said, “have unique ‘magical properties’ enabling them to carry oxygen throughout the body and flush it of carbon dioxide. In addition, every pint of blood contains plasma and platelets. The combination means that each time you give blood, you can save three lives.”
Blood components provide doctors with the tools necessary to give emergency transfusions to accident victims, aid in recovery from surgery, and treat cancer patients and victims of blood diseases such as sickle cell anemia. “And what is collected here stays here,” said Rosen, with locally donated blood going to meet the needs of Southwest Florida residents and visitors. “We need a steady stream of donors to meet the needs of the community. During season, we need 1,000 units of whole blood each month,” said Rosen, “and we have to have it ready ahead of time.”
The bloodmobiles have been critical to the NCH community outreach efforts, accounting for 70 percent of all blood donations in Collier County, with the other 30 percent coming from donations at the fixed blood center at the NCH North Naples Hospital off of Immokalee Road.
“Even more critical are the donors and the volunteers who organize and coordinate our efforts. We couldn’t do what we do without them,” she said.
It is easy to schedule a visit from the Bloodmobile to your own community, business, house of worship, or organization. If you have at least 20 to 25 donors, the Bloodmobile will come to you for maximum convenience.
“If you want to save a life, give donating blood a try,” said Laura Rosen. “There’s no easier way to be a hero.”
To learn more about donating blood, call (239) 624-4120 or visit www.givebloodcbc.org .
The Community Blood Center Bloodmobile:
• Has an ongoing need for up to 1,000 pints of blood each month • Offers an “easy way to be a hero” • Blood collected locally stays here for residents
Ingredients
• 1 small bunch of beets, or enough canned beets (no salt added) to make 3 cups, drained • 1/4 cup red wine vinegar • 3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
• 8 cups fresh salad greens • 1/4 cup chopped apple • 1/4 cup chopped celery • Freshly ground pepper • 3 tablespoons chopped walnuts • 1/4 cup gorgonzola cheese, crumbled
• 1 tablespoon olive oil • 1 tablespoon water
HEALTHY RECIPE BEET WALNUT SALAD This beautiful salad mixes the flavors of sweet beets, savory gorgonzola, and tangy vinaigrette. Chopped apple, celery and walnuts add crunch.
Directions 1. Steam raw beets in water in a saucepan until tender. Slip off skins. Rinse to cool. Slice in 1/2-inch rounds. In a medium bowl, toss with red wine vinegar. 2. In a large bowl, combine balsamic vinegar, olive oil and water. Add salad greens and toss. 3. Put greens onto individual salad plates. Top with sliced beets and chopped apples and celery. Sprinkle with pepper, walnuts, and cheese. Serve immediately.
Nutritional analysis per serving Serving size: About 1.5 cups total (1 cup lettuce and 1/2 cup beets) • Total carbohydrate 12 g
• Cholesterol 5 mg • Protein 3 g • Monounsaturated fat 1.5 g • Calories 105 • Added sugars 0 g
• Dietary fiber 3 g • Sodium 135 mg • Saturated fat 1.5 g
• Total fat 5 g • Trans fat 0 g
For more information or to make an appointment at the NCH von Arx Diabetes and Nutrition Health Center, call (239) 624-3450 or visit nchmd.org . The NCH von Arx Diabetes and Nutrition Health Center is located at 399 9th Street North in Naples.
MAY 2021
5 NCH HEALTHCARE SYSTEM | Helping everyone live a longer, happier, and healthier life.
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