Thursday's Internet Edition, 05:30 PM, May 15, 2008. Give blood at LMC and win chance for movie tickets - Spring and summer times bring joy each year- long hours of daylight, picnics at the park, a break from routines; but these seasons also bring a great need for blood donors. Limestone Medical Center is hosting a community blood drive with Carter BloodCare on Tuesday, May 20 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. to boost the blood supply. The blood drive will be held at Limestone Medical Center on the Carter BloodCare bus, at 701 McClintic Drive in Groesbeck. Donors who give blood during May and June will enter a weekly chance to win a 10-pack of movie tickets. One grand prize winner will receive movie passes for an entire year. For more information or to schedule an appointment, contact Linda Rojas or Bud Jablonowski at 254-729-3281. Red blood cells must be transfused within 42 days, and platelets, the clotting factor most commonly required by cancer patients, are good for only five days. Because of these short shelf lives, patients depend upon the generosity of regular blood donors. A lack of ample blood of all types compromises the ability of hospitals to provide adequate care. Blood type O+ is the most common blood type. Blood type O- is called the universal donor, as it can be given to a patient of any blood type. In addition to direct matches, it is used for accident victims, for whom blood is often needed before there is time to type the patient. It is also used when supplies of other types run low. During times of greater need, Type O blood is the most rapidly depleted. Potential donors must be at least 17 years old, weigh a minimum of 100 pounds and be in good general health. People who present to give blood should eat a nourishing meal before donating and must bring a photo ID. For more information about donor eligibility, call Carter BloodCare at 1-800-DONATE-4, or visit carterbloodcare.org. Carter BloodCare’s volunteer donors provide lifesaving blood for patients at over 300 healthcare facilities an 54 Central, North Central and East Texas counties, including Limestone Medical Center. Carter BloodCare is accredited by the American Association of Blood Banks, licensed by the Food and Drug Administration and is a member of America’s Blood Centers. This is an on-line publication of Groesbeck Journal P.O. Box 440 Groesbeck, TX 76642-0440 254-729-5103 For comments or questions, email Publisher: Thomas Hawkins thawkins@groesbeckjournal.com The Web Site contains material which is protected by international copyright and trademark laws. No material may be copied, reproduced, republished, broadcast or distributed in any way or decompiled, except that you may download one copy of the Materials on any single computer for your personal, non-commercial home use only, provided you keep intact all copyright and other proprietary notices. On-line publication, Copyright 2000, Groesbeck Journal. Web page design, Copyright 2000, EZ Edit Web Publishing.