‘I have it in my blood.’ La Puente man breeds carrier pigeons for life’s special moments

Rafael Chávez has dedicated part of his life to raising carrier pigeons. The work that he considers his hobby has its rewards, such as the joy he brings to families celebrating and honoring some of life’s special moments. Chávez, of Jalisco, Mexico, has been dedicated to “colombofilia” for more than 35 years. It’s an art that consists of the breeding and training of birds to turn them into carrier pigeons. One of Chávez’s pigeons. “I dedicate myself because I like it, it is something very beautiful, it is something very original,” said Chávez. “Since I was a child, and since Guadalajara, I have it in my blood.” Chávez has released doves at quinceañera celebrations, weddings, funerals and many other special events, leaving indelible memories for thousands of people. He has more than 300 pigeons that fulfill different functions. Some are for breeding and others for competitions, which have earned him thousands of dollars in prizes. The white pigeons, a symbol of peace, are the most popular. “I have to train them [so] that they come back here, in my area,” says Chávez. “And now [at] two, three months, I start giving them 10, 20 miles, up to 400.” Having spent their entire lives in captivity, it’s easy to think the pigeons are in immediate danger when they’re released. However, they have their own natural GPS that guides them. That navigation and guidance system remains a mystery to science. But what is not a mystery is that they return to their place no matter where they are released. In some cases traveling great distances. “The farthest they’ve come back? [Up to] 400 miles,” says Chávez. “My pigeons have also returned from Arizona and San Francisco.” In addition to making a living and entertaining, Chávez is very proud of a great achievement. “I am the first Mexican who started using white pigeons in the city of Los Angeles,” he said proudly. Another of the great challenges that Chávez has, in addition to taking care of his “little ones,” as he calls them, is preventing hawks from killing them since they are part of the diet of these birds of prey. Lee esta historia en español aquí.

Promising CART T cancer therapy invented at Penn linked to rare, secondary cancers, FDA says

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) — The FDA is investigating an alarming finding on a promising cancer therapy invented at Penn Medicine. It’s being linked to rare, secondary cancers. The agency said it received 19 reports of new blood cancers in patients who got the CAR T treatment. Some outcomes included hospitalization and death. RELATED: New gene therapy turns blood cells into cancer fighters CAR T cell therapy was approved in 2017 and involves extracting disease-fighting T-cells from a patient. They are re-engineered to attack cancer and then infused back into the body. The FDA says, for now, the overall benefits of the therapy still outweigh the risk. Action News has reached out to Penn for a statement regarding the finding. ALSO SEE: Moves in Medicine: New treatment for multiple myeloma

Types of white blood cells: what the numbers may mean

In Part 1 we focused on interpreting blood tests related to red blood cells and clotting. Now we turn our attention to blood tests focusing on white blood cells and tumor markers. To recap, blood tests can be used to monitor your condition, by checking: How well your treatments are working Whether it is safe for you to continue your current treatment plan The effects of your medications Whether any of your blood cell types are below or above the normal range, and whether your blood is clotting normally The levels of electrolytes, minerals, hormones, oxygen and carbon dioxide in your blood Whether you have an infection How well your organs and systems are working The ABCs of white blood cells White blood cells, also called leukocytes or WBCs, are the centerpiece of the immune system’s response that helps your body fight off infections, destroy abnormal cells and prevent illness. WBCs usually live only few days, so your bone marrow continually makes new ones. There are five basic types, but 60-70% of them are neutrophils. When your neutrophil count is low (neutropenia), you are at higher risk of infection, because your immune system is weaker. Some level of neutropenia is common during cancer treatment. If your provider orders a complete blood count (CBC) with differential, the results will include the number of white blood cells — as a number and/or a percentage — and the types of WBCs and how many of each type is in your blood. The level of WBCs in your blood remains fairly stable, but your counts may go up or down, depending on what is going on in your body. For example, bacterial infections tend to cause a rise in neutrophils, allergies cause a rise in eosinophils, and viral infections cause a rise in lymphocytes. The normal range for WBC count is usually 4,500-11,000, which can be written as 4.5-11 x 10³. Types of White Blood Cells Low Numbers Can Be Due To: High Numbers Can Be Due To: Neutrophils 40-79% Neutrophils (number of) 1.6-8 Infections Some medications including chemotherapy Blood cancers or bone Marrow Diseases Ionizing Radiation Vitamin deficiency (B12, folate, copper) Bacterial infections Some viral, fungal and parasite infections Acute inflammation (heart attack, severe burns) Lymphocytes 10-45% Lymphocytes (number of) 1-4.5 Infectious diseases (AIDS, viral hepatitis, TB) Autoimmune disorders (lupus) Steroid treatment Blood cancers and disorders Chemotherapy or radiation treatment A recent infection Arthritis or other disorder that causes long-lasting inflammation Reaction to new medication Blood cancers Splenectomy (removal of the spleen) Monocytes 1-13% Monocytes (number of) 0.1-1.0 Blood cancers and disorders Polycythemia vera Connective tissue diseases Infections Inflammatory bowel disease Depression Marathon running Chronic inflammation Infection Autoimmune disease Blood cancers Eosinophils 0.060% Eosinophils (number of) 0.0-0.70 Heavy use of alcohol Overproduction of cortisol (Cushing’s syndrome) or steroid use Stress reactions Burns Acute infection Allergies, asthma Parasite & fungal infections Autoimmune disease Inflammatory conditions Adrenal disorders Toxin Tumors Basophils 0.020% Basophils (number of) 0.0-0.3 Hyperthyroidism (too much thyroid hormone) Acute hypersensitivity (allergic) reactions Infections Chronic inflammation (lupus, Crohn’s disease, diabetes, allergies) Hypothyroidism (low thyroid function) Myeloproliferative disorders (polycythemia vera) Tumor markers 101 Your blood may also show the presence of tumor markers (biomarkers), which the National Cancer Institute describes as “anything present in or produced by cancer cells or other cells of the body in response to cancer or certain benign (noncancerous) conditions.” Tumor markers can indicate: Your risk level for certain cancers How aggressive your cancer is Whether your cancer is responding to treatment Whether your cancer can be treated effectively with targeted therapy Whether your disease has gone into remission or recurred In the past, the only tumor markers that had been identified were proteins that were produced in higher amounts by cancer cells. However, with advances in science, we have learned that genetic markers can also be used as tumor markers. These include gene mutations, changes in the DNA of the tumor and specific ways the tumor’s genes are expressed (how the genes change the way the cell looks/acts). Today many different tumor markers are in clinical use. It’s important to understand that no single tumor marker can show whether someone has cancer. Some tumor markers are associated with only one type of cancer; others, with multiple cancer types — but there is no “universal” tumor marker that can reveal the presence any type of cancer. Never miss another Cancer Talk blog! Sign up to receive our monthly Cancer Talk e-newsletter. Sign up! Another limitation is that the levels of a tumor marker can rise and fall continually, so it may be difficult to use the information provided by the blood sample. Also, some tumors do not have a marker, and even for the tumors that do, not every person with that type of cancer will have the marker. For more information about white blood cells, see the Roswell Park publication “Understanding Your Blood Tests.” You’ll find it online in the Patient Education Library in the MyRoswell patient portal, or you can pick up a copy of the brochure from The 11 Day Power Play Cancer Resource Center or ask your nurse in your care center. Learn more about tumor markers from the National Cancer Institute.

Infection Intel: Revolutionizing Infection Monitoring for Chemotherapy Patients With iTempShield

For patients undergoing chemotherapy, infection risks are a critical concern. To help address this point, AION Biosystems has developed iTempShield, a skin-wearable device and software system that tracks temperature remotely and accurately. It helps patients and clinicians stay ahead of infections, especially for high-risk populations. iTempShield is a small, quarter-sized wearable device that can be placed on the skin. It is supported by cloud-based software and proprietary algorithms, which enable it to continuously measure body temperature for up to 60 days. The device is designed for various clinical applications, including oncology, sepsis monitoring, post-surgical infection detection, long-term care, and consumer home health. It is fully reimbursable and approved for use on adults and children 5 years and older in hospitals, outpatient healthcare facilities, remote patient monitoring environments, and over-the-counter consumer sales. Infection Control Today Infection Intel: Staying Ahead with Company updates and product Innovations. Currently, iTempShield is in use at Ellis Medicine’s Roswell Park Cancer Institute. The technology is also being deployed broadly across Schenectady, New York, through the Smart City program. To learn more about iTempShield and the program, Infection Control Today® (ICT®) spoke with Vincent Giovagnoli, the Stay Well Program Director at the City of Schenectady; and Tallat Mahmood, MD, medical director at Ellis Medicine’s Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Schenectady, New York, and affiliate assistant professor of internal medicine. Mahmood explained why checking a patient undergoing chemotherapy is important: “if after you give [patients undergoing] chemotherapy when their blood counts go down, they’re at particular risk for infections. And the sooner you treat them for an infection, the more likely you’re able to get a handle on it and keep them out of the hospital. It’s better to jump on it quickly, then, rather than let them get septic, and then it becomes a huge ordeal. We generally will tell patients to make, especially at that 7 to 14 [day] time period, when we know that they’re at risk, that that’s when the blood counts drop, to check their temperature every day.” Giovagnoli explains the collaboration between the city of Schenectady, New York, and Ellis Medicine’s Roswell Park Cancer Institute: “This is a collaborative effort from the city, the hospital, as AION Biosystems. The goal is to mitigate infections and reduce hospital admissions. This is also a revenue-generating, self-sustaining concept for remote patient monitoring. We want to reduce the [number] of patients [who] are going to the emergency department because, especially if [they] are immunocompromised, we want to support these immunocompromised patients by providing them with some type of remote patient monitoring resource as well as a device that is it’s very easy for them to be compliant with this device because [they] just put it on [themselves and] forget about it. What we found is that we can detect infections at an earlier stage than they typically would if they were doing an oral temperature thermometer, and then at that point, we can monitor the patient in an outpatient setting at the comfort of their home.”

Solvita in critical need of blood donors – Daily Advocate & Early Bird News

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Inspira Collaborates with Ennocure for development of a Proprietary Bio-Electronic Treatment to Prevent Associated Bloodstream Infections in ICU Patients

RA’ANANA, Israel, Nov. 29, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — Inspira Technologies OXY B.H.N. Ltd. (Nasdaq: IINN) (Nasdaq: IINNW) (the “Company” or “Inspira”), an innovator in life support technology, is excited to announce a partnership with Ennocure MedTech Ltd. At the core of Inspira’s mission is a groundbreaking approach to oxygenate blood directly to replace life support mechanical ventilation. Inspira seeks to include bio-electronic technology as part of the INSPIRA ART and Company’s IP portfolio, to prevent the growth of bacteria that often results in a bloodstream infection (sepsis) and has partnered with Ennocure for the development of such treatment. Today, it is estimated that 250,000 bloodstream infections related to intravenous lines occur worldwide each year, leading to prolonged hospital stays and increasing healthcare costs. Once developed, Inspira plans to combine the bio-electronic novel physical stimulation technology, as a preemptive measure for potentially at-risk patients, providing a cost-competitive solution to reduce complications. Dagi-Ben Noon, CEO of Inspira, reflects on the partnership’s significance: “By Integrating our technology to oxygenate blood directly with Ennocure’s infection prevention solutions, we are focusing on potentially improving patient outcomes in ICUs and paving the way for safer, more effective life-support treatments. This collaboration is expected to accelerate the development and broaden the implementation of our advanced technology.” About Ennocure MedTech Ltd. Ennocure, is a pioneer in the development of bio-electronic Wound Dressing. At the core of the technology is a proprietary bio-electronic wound dressing designed to prevent bacterial infections, while providing remote wound monitoring & infection alerts based on AI-driven personalized therapy. Inspira Technologies OXY B.H.N. Ltd. Inspira Technologies is leading the way in transforming life-support care. Its innovative solutions are paving the way for direct blood oxygenation, bypassing the lungs, and potentially reducing the need for traditional mechanical ventilation. Beyond this, the Company is committed to advancing blood circulation technology and incorporating AI-driven monitoring systems. These advancements are part of its strategy to offer more patient-focused, data-informed care. The integration of these technologies signifies the potential to enhance patient outcomes and streamline hospital operations, marking a new era in respiratory care. For more information, please visit our corporate website:https://inspira-technologies.com/ Forward-Looking Statement Disclaimer This press release contains express or implied forward-looking statements pursuant to U.S. Federal securities laws. These forward-looking statements and their implications are based on the current expectations of the management of the Company only and are subject to a number of factors and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements. For example, the Company is using forward-looking statements when it discusses the partnership with Ennocure MedTech Ltd for the development of a bio-electronic treatment to prevent Associated Bloodstream Infections in ICU Patients, when it discusses the benefits of the treatment and the integration of Ennocure’s technology, when it discusses Inspira’s plans to combine the bio-electronic novel physical stimulation technology, as a preemptive measure for potentially at-risk patients, providing a cost-competitive solution to reduce complications, or when it discusses that this collaboration is expected to accelerate the development and broaden the implementation of Inspira’s technology . Except as otherwise required by law, the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly release any revisions to these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. More detailed information about the risks and uncertainties affecting the Company is contained under the heading “Risk Factors” in the Company’s annual report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022 filed with the SEC, which is available on the SEC’s website, www.sec.gov. For more details: Public Relations ManagerAdi ShmueliInspira Technologies[email protected] +972-9-9664485 Copyright © 2018-2023 Inspira Technologies OXY B.H.N. LTD., All rights reserved. Logo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1668495/Inspira_Technologies_Logo.jpg SOURCE Inspira Technologies

Red Planet Pictures Adapting A Matter of Blood

ADVERTISEMENT Red Planet Pictures has optioned the rights to Sarah Pinborough’s The Dog-Faced Gods trilogy and is in development on an adaptation of the first novel, A Matter of Blood. Set in contemporary London, the six-part adaptation will follow detective Cass, who is drawn into a dangerous game of cat and mouse with a serial killer. When his older brother is found dead alongside his family, Cass becomes the prime suspect and must fight to prove his innocence while saving his marriage and searching for the serial killer. The adaptation is being executive produced by Belinda Campbell, Tom Mullens and Caroline Skinner for Red Planet Pictures and Pinborough. Pinborough has had previous novels adapted for the screen, with Behind Her Eyes on Netflix and Insomnia on Paramount+. “Sarah is the author of the moment, and one of the most prolific and talented fantasy thriller novelists in the world, so we’re over the moon to be working with her as she brings A Matter of Blood to life with an audaciously bold and brilliant vision,” said Mullens. “We’re always looking to push the genre boundaries, and this is the perfect project to do just that.” Pinborough said, “I have been quietly in love with Cass Jones and his story since writing him, and I’m so excited to be working with such a dynamic and creative team at Red Planet Pictures to bring him to life—with a bang—on the screen. It’s such a joy; I’m loving every minute of it!”

Marvel Zombies: Black, White & Blood #2 review

It took Marvel a few years, but they had the common sense to give Marvel Zombies the “Black, White & Blood” treatment this year. The second issue is out this week, and it’s stacked with incredible creators and incredible stories. Watch as Reed Richards attempts to save humanity, Beta Ray Bill fights forever with his impenetrable skin, and witness Warpath take one for the team. This is an exceptional anthology issue that’s well worth picking up. It starts with a sharply written story by Gail Simone and Dal Eaglesham titled “Under the Eye of an Unkind Future.” This story resembles a classic Fantastic Four tale with sharp art and creative ways of conveying Mr. Fantastic’s abilities. It opens with the First Family dropping Reed off, who knows for a fact humanity has seven days before all is lost. Rendered in sepia tones that border on red, red here conveys a sense of doom hanging over everything. Usually, red is used for blood, but we see Reed slowly go mad. Simone writes a psychological story as we read Reed’s thoughts via captions and see he’s slowly losing himself even when a robot is programmed to keep him eating and sleeping. She also utilizes Iron Man well here to show that Reed’s lack of social skills grows worse as the days wear on. Ultimately, this tale is about a man who can’t live without his family, especially when all is lost. This story largely works because Simone never loses sight of Reed’s humanity, nor does she make it a gore-fest. <img decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-528926" data-attachment-id="528926" data-permalink="https://aiptcomics.com/?attachment_id=528926" data-orig-file="https://i0.wp.com/aiptcomics.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/MARZOMBLKWHBL2023002_Preview-4.jpeg?fit=756%2C1148&ssl=1" data-orig-size="756,1148" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title="MARZOMBLKWHBL2023002_Preview 4" data-image-description data-image-caption=" Poor Reed, but what a great opening story! Credit: Marvel ” data-medium-file=”https://i0.wp.com/aiptcomics.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/MARZOMBLKWHBL2023002_Preview-4.jpeg?fit=198%2C300&ssl=1″ data-large-file=”https://i0.wp.com/aiptcomics.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/MARZOMBLKWHBL2023002_Preview-4.jpeg?fit=674%2C1024&ssl=1″ class=”ezlazyload wp-image-528926 size-full” src=”data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns=%22http://www.w3.org/2000/svg%22%20width=%22740%22%20height=%221124%22%3E%3C/svg%3E” alt=”Marvel Zombies: Black, White & Blood #2″ width=”740″ height=”1124″ title=”MARZOMBLKWHBL2023002 Preview 4″ data-ezsrcset=”https://aiptcomics.com/ezoimgfmt/i0.wp.com/aiptcomics.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/MARZOMBLKWHBL2023002_Preview-4.jpeg?w=756&ssl=1 756w,https://aiptcomics.com/ezoimgfmt/i0.wp.com/aiptcomics.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/MARZOMBLKWHBL2023002_Preview-4.jpeg?resize=198%2C300&ssl=1 198w,https://aiptcomics.com/ezoimgfmt/i0.wp.com/aiptcomics.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/MARZOMBLKWHBL2023002_Preview-4.jpeg?resize=674%2C1024&ssl=1 674w” sizes=”(max-width: 740px) 100vw, 740px” data-recalc-dims=”1″ ezimgfmt=”rs rscb2 src ng ngcb2 srcset” data-ezsrc=”https://aiptcomics.com/ezoimgfmt/i0.wp.com/aiptcomics.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/MARZOMBLKWHBL2023002_Preview-4.jpeg?resize=740%2C1124&ssl=1″> Poor Reed, but what a great opening story!Credit: Marvel Erica Schultz and Nelson Daniel take Beta Ray Bill on an adventure across the stars in “The Last Ballad of Beta Ray Bill.” Featuring Skuttlebutt, this is a Beta Ray Bill on the run with his back against the wall. You can see how this story could fit in Daniel Warren Johnson’s excellent miniseries. Early on we learn Beta Ray Bill’s skin being chew-proof is a detriment as he loses friends and questions why he fights at all. Schultz does a fabulous job of capturing the character’s heroism and utilitarian demeanor. He will never give up. It’s not in his blood. The use of red serves as a reminder of Beta Ray Bill’s strength, not blood or gore, which is another pleasant surprise. Closing out this issue is “Warpath” by Doug Wagner and Juan Gedeon. Warpath, Siryn, Feral, Cannonball, Spiral, and Boom-Boom are collecting the heads of their zombie friends, but we learn quickly Cable is still standing. Super powerful, Warpath uses the fact that he will turn to their advantage in an action-packed, last-ditch effort. Gedeon gets creative with how the action moves across the page, with a great sense of detail in his cartooning. Overall, it’s a nice action-heavy romp that evens out the internal narrative-focused first two tales. Marvel Zombies: Black, White & Blood #2 is an excellent chapter in a long line of great tales in the Black, White & Blood legacy. Above all else, the duration of the three tales maximizes the entertainment, never getting too action-heavy or character-focused. For a zombie series, Marvel Zombies: Black, White & Blood is thrillingly alive. <img loading="eager" decoding="async" width="932" height="554" src="https://medicalguru.us/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/marvel-zombies-2-e1701134258821.jpg" class="attachment-full size-full" alt="'Marvel Zombies: Black, White & Blood' #2 is thrillingly alive" srcset sizes data-attachment-id="529359" data-permalink="https://aiptcomics.com/2023/11/29/marvel-zombies-black-white-blood-2-review/marvel-zombies-2/" data-orig-file="https://i0.wp.com/aiptcomics.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/marvel-zombies-2-e1701134258821.jpg?fit=932%2C554&ssl=1" data-orig-size="932,554" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta="{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"1"}" data-image-title="marvel zombies 2" data-image-description data-image-caption=" Marvel ” data-medium-file=”https://i0.wp.com/aiptcomics.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/marvel-zombies-2-e1701134258821.jpg?fit=300%2C178&ssl=1″ data-large-file=”https://i0.wp.com/aiptcomics.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/marvel-zombies-2-e1701134258821.jpg?fit=740%2C321&ssl=1″ title=”marvel zombies 2 e1701134258821″ ezimgfmt=”rs rscb2 src ng ngcb2 srcset” importance=”high” fetchpriority=”high”> ‘Marvel Zombies: Black, White & Blood’ #2 is thrillingly alive Marvel Zombies: Black, White & Blood #2 Marvel Zombies: Black, White & Blood #2 is an excellent chapter in a long line of great tales in the Black, White & Blood legacy. Above all else, the duration of the three tales maximizes the entertainment, never getting too action-heavy or character-focused. For a zombie series, Marvel Zombies: Black, White & Blood is thrillingly alive. Reader Rating0 Votes 0 Exceptionally drawn and written opening story Beta Ray Bill is revealed to be a truly godly hero Fun X-Men backup that’s filled with action Great curation of three tales that work well together X-Men tale is a little lighter on deeper and meaningful character work Join the AIPT Patreon Want to take our relationship to the next level? Become a patron today to gain access to exclusive perks, such as: � Remove all ads on the website � Join our Discord community, where we chat about the latest news and releases from everything we cover on AIPT � Access to our monthly book club � Get a physical trade paperback shipped to you every month � And more! Sign up today Sign up for our newsletter

Switzerland aims for zero HIV and hepatitis infections by 2030

The NAPS campaign will target people at risk from infections. © Keystone / Gaetan Bally read aloud pause The government wants to eradicate new infections with the AIDS virus (HIV) and hepatitis B or C in Switzerland by 2030. This content was published on November 29, 2023 – 14:59 November 29, 2023 – 14:59 Kestone-SDA To this end, the Federal Council has adopted the program “Stop HIV, hepatitis B, hepatitis C virus and sexually transmitted infections (NAPS)”. This goal is in line with that of the World Health Organization (WHO), the Federal Council wrote on Wednesday. Hepatitis B and C are new additions to the prevention program. The first national program against HIV was launched in 1987. The NAPS program is intended to particularly target those people who are at increased risk of such infections. Everyone, especially younger people, should be made aware of the risks posed by these diseases and learn how they can protect themselves. The programs also provide simple and low-threshold test offers. In addition, health insurance companies will cover the costs of HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis for people at increased risk from July 1, 2024. Do you have more questions about this story? How we work This news story has been written and carefully fact-checked by an external editorial team. At SWI swissinfo.ch we select the most relevant news for an international audience and use automatic translation tools such as DeepL to translate it into English. Providing you with automatically translated news gives us the time to write more in-depth articles. You can find them hereExternal link. If you want to know more about how we work, have a look hereExternal link, and if you have feedback on this news story please write to english@swissinfo.chExternal link. End of insertion External Content Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again. Almost finished… We need to confirm your email address. To complete the subscription process, please click the link in the email we just sent you. Articles in this story In compliance with the JTI standards More: SWI swissinfo.ch certified by the Journalism Trust Initiative

Holiday Carolina Blood Drive celebrates 25th year

With the holiday season in full swing, Carolina offers the community many ways to serve and lend a helping hand. One such opportunity is the 25th annual Holiday Carolina Blood Drive, hosted Dec. 7 by the Employee Forum and the American Red Cross. “You feel like you’re doing something that’s good for mankind,” said Dr. Amelia F. Drake, professor of otolaryngology at the UNC School of Medicine and the first person to sign up for this year’s Holiday Carolina Blood Drive. Based on 2022’s turnout, Drake won’t be alone. Last year, 369 people came to donate blood, nearly a third of them for the first time. Since 1999, the drive has accepted 8,105 donors, who contributed a combined 7,828 units of blood. Dr. Amelia Drake was the first to sign up for 2023’s Holiday blood drive. (submitted photo) “People are able to give at a time when it’s needed,” Drake said. “It’s a time of year when this kind of donation is the most rewarding.” Drake also feels that the Holiday Carolina Blood Drive highlights illnesses that most people often ignore. “We see sickness around us every day, and I appreciate that we can all participate in something that goes to a good cause and do something about it,” Drake said. Where to register While the blood drive does accept walk-ups on the day of the event, you can beat the crowds by reserving your donation time. There are still times available at the American Red Cross’ Blood Services site or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800­-733-2767). Make sure you’re eligible to donate As the drive approaches, check to make sure you are eligible to give by entering the date of your last donation. This online calculator considers whole blood, power red and platelet donations. Where to go This year’s Holiday Carolina Blood Drive is from 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Dec. 7 at Fetzer Hall. Free parking is available in Cobb Deck. In addition to free food, donors will also receive a commemorative T-shirt celebrating 25 years of the Holiday Carolina Blood Drive’s commitment to service. For more details or information on volunteering, visit carolinablooddrive.unc.edu.