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By Staff Reports

Blood supply drops; Red Cross needs donors

The American Red Cross urges individuals to donate blood as soon as possible. The current blood supply has dropped critically low throughout the Southeast.

In the Carolinas blood services region, there is less than a day's supply of most blood types.

All blood types are needed, but there is a special need for types O and B. The supply typically experiences a drop in the summer due to vacations and extended holidays. The current shortage has occurred earlier in the season; the Red Cross predicts the July 4 holiday will exacerbate the situation.

In the Carolinas region, the Red Cross has distributed 5.7 percent more red cells, more than 16,000 units, and 7.1 percent more platelets, more than 2,600 units, to area hospitals. In the Southeast, the increasing need for blood can be attributed to a growing population, including retirees with medical needs.

Eligible donors must be at least 17 years of age, weigh a minimum of 110 pounds and be in good health. Blood may be safely donated every 56 days.

The following drives will be held in York and Chester counties:

• 2:30 to 7 p.m. Thursday, St. John's United Methodist Church, 130 Tom Hall St., Fort Mill.

• 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. July 10, Chester Regional Medical Center, 1 Medical Park Drive, Chester.

• 2 to 6:30 p.m. July 13, Target, 1900 Springsteen Road, Rock Hill.

• 1:30 to 6 p.m. July 14, Maggie Moo's Ice Cream & Treatery, 753 Crossroads Plaza, Tega Cay.

For details, call 329-6575.

Support groups meet for caregivers, gluten free

The following support groups will meet:

• Park Avenue Adult Day Center will offer a caregiver group at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at the center, 359 Park Ave., Rock Hill. For details, call Barbara Smith at 327-7448.

• The Living Well Gluten Free support group will meet at 6 p.m. Tuesday. For details on location, call 985-5999.

Local groups can help with substance abuse

The following substance abuse-related groups will meet:

• Reformers Unanimous, an international faith-based addictions program, will meet from 7 to 9 p.m. Fridays at Rock Hill Independent Baptist Church in the Winthrop Commons Shopping Center, 725 Cherry Road, Rock Hill. The entrance and parking are at the rear. For details, call 327-6690 or visit www.reformu.com.

• Nicotine Anonymous, a 12-step program for smokers and chewers, meets from 6:45 to 7:45 p.m. Fridays at The Serenity Club, 209 Grayson Road, Rock Hill. For details, call (803) 675-6002.

• Celebrate Recovery, a national Christian 12-step program, meets at 6:30 p.m. Mondays at York Baptist Association, 434 Museum Road, Rock Hill. For details, call 627-0594 or visit www.golifeway.com/CR.

• For Al-Anon/Alateen meetings in York, Chester and Lancaster counties, call 1-800-334-2666 or visit www.sc-alanon-alateen.org.

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