Blood Drive to Benefit Local Patients This past June, 39 individuals in our area donated blood at Nevada Regional Medical Center. Although several more were willing, this was the maximum amount of units that could be collected on that day. Community Blood Center (CBC) will again be conducting a blood drive on Thursday, September 3 at NRMC in the Moore-Few Care Center Community Room. The maximum units for this blood drive have been increased in the hopes that all willing donors will be able to give. Additionally, CBC will be collecting double red cells during this drive. This process is beneficial to our local hospitals because more of the blood components that are in greatest demand are collected. Double red cell donation also benefits the donor who will receive their plasma and a saline solution to compensate for blood volume loss which decreases side effects and reactions. CBC now offers Save a Life Rewards, an online donor rewards program. Donors can go to www.savealifenow.org to access wellness information recorded at the time of donation including total cholesterol. With each donation the donor is also rewarded points which can be accumulated and used to redeem gifts. Community Blood Center must collect at least 580 pints of blood every day to meet the needs of our area. Individuals can help meet local needs by donating blood at the Community Blood Center blood drive on Thursday, September 3 from 12 to 4 p.m. in the Moore-Few Care Center Community Room, 800 S. Ash. To register online, go to www.esavealifenow.org and use sponsor code nevadamedctr. You may also contact Natalie Leeper at (417) 448-3609. Just one donation can help as many as two local hospital patients.