Belinda Belk This is Me

 Web References

1. 1. Community Blood Center of the Ozarks

   www.cbco.org/AboutUs/ContactCB - [Cached]

   Published on: 1/18/2008   Last Visited: 1/18/2008

   Belinda Belk
   
   417-626-8323

2. 2. Neosho Daily News: News Index

   www.neoshodailynews.com/articl - [Cached]

   Published on: 3/3/2004   Last Visited: 3/3/2004

   "With the amount of participation, we should see 110 pints of blood," said Belinda Belk, field representative with the Community Blood Center of the Ozarks.
   ...
   "The steps of giving include: Registering your name and address, are asked a few questions concerning your health, medical history and check your temperature and blood pressure; donation of the blood, which only takes five to 10 minutes and the canteen area, where you get food back in your system," said Belk.
   
   Once the blood is taken, Belk says that the blood is "segmented" and put into the coolers and kept at below freezing until the hospitals use it. "The bottom line of the drive is to provide safe blood for the patients," said Belk.
   
   The requirements for giving blood include the participant over the age of 17, weighs 110 pounds, feel healthy and have not given blood in the last 56 days.
   
   "We encourage people, especially men, to donate blood. It has been a proven fact that giving blood helps you in the long run. By donating, it helps your body 'flush-out' your system. We tell the students that it is like you changing the oil in the car," said Belk.
   
   The Community Blood Center of the Ozarks services 37 hospitals, including Freeman and St. John's, in the Southwest Missouri, Northwest Arkansas and Kansas area.
   
   "We participate with 125 schools in the 38-county states. The students at the schools know the responsibility of donating blood," said Belk.
   
   Belk hopes with the students donating blood at 17 will become a life-time donor.
   
   "Our transfusion rates are up this year and in December saw a record of over 5,700 transfusions. The amount of blood for each surgery differs from one to another," said Belk.
   
   "If someone is in need of blood to be stabilized, they receive O negative. That blood type can be used in anyone, until their blood is typed," said Belk.

3. 3. The Joplin Globe - Online Edition

   www.joplinglobe.com/020624/reg - [Cached]

   Published on: 6/24/2002   Last Visited: 6/24/2002

   Belinda Belk, field representative for the Community Blood Center of the Ozarks in Joplin, said more than 1,600 usable pints of blood were collected in a one-week period after supplies dipped dangerously low.
   
   The donations, taken June 10-14, came from a 38-county area in Missouri, Kansas and Arkansas, Belk said. A total of 83 pints were collected in Joplin.
   
   The alarm for more donations was sounded again last week after supplies reached "code red" status.
   
   Belk said a "code red" indicates less than a one-day supply is on hand. Blood-bank representatives go on television and radio, and advertise in newspapers for donors.
   
   "It has been a year since we went ‘code red,'" Belk said. "We do not cry wolf. We can't. When we say we need it, we need it."
   ...
   Belk said there is always a need for donors, but the number gets critically low during the summer. She attributed that to people traveling and to regular donors just getting out of the rhythm of giving once every eight weeks.
   
   Blood is made up of three components. Red blood cells help carry oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body. Platelets help blood clot. Belk said platelets are important for patients undergoing heart surgeries and for those suffering from cancer. Plasma is the liquid that floats the cells throughout the body. Belk said plasma can be frozen for up to one year, and that the body can replenish its supply just hours after donation.
   
   The body needs three to five days to replenish platelets and 42 days to restore its supply of red blood cells.
   
   "We may go on vacation, but the need for blood never takes a vacation," Belk said.
   
   Belk said people who want to donate blood must be 17 or older and weigh at least 110 pounds. Donors must be in good health and must not have not donated blood in the past 56 days.