The coastland times. [volume] (Mnateo [i.e. Manteo], N.C.) 1947-1959, 1959-02-06
A PRIVILEGE. A
RESPONSIBILITY
AND A DUTY
BY DIR. w. w. JOHNSTON
District Health Officer

q VII HCCI
For long time it has BEEF
known that many of the peopl,
from Dare County have needed
blood transfusions for severa
causes, such as the loss of large
quantities of blood from injurie:
of various kinds and for certain
diseases which cause loss of bloot
or the destruction of the red bloot
corpuscles, etc.
"'hora is no reason to presume
that this need will not continue t.
exist; and most likely it will in
crease with the ever increasing
number of automobiles, moder1
machinery of various kinds ano
other hazards.
Fortunately these needs have
been met; chiefly through the
Tidewater Blood Bank which sup
plies the needed blood for most. if
not all, of the HOSPITALS in the AL
hemarle and Tidewater areas. or by
blood donations from relatives and
frionds.
This is mighty fine as long rs
it lasts but, can we count on this
to continue indefinitely? We are
afraid not. because the demand for
blood is becoming so great that
one cannot be sure of getting blood
through the blood bank unless
their county or area is member
!of the Blood Bank Program and
the people of this area donate
blood regularly and in quantity.
Unfortunately, Dare County does
not meet this obligation. Several
attempts have been made to get
Dare County lined up for regular
visits of the Red Cross Blood Mo
bile Unit from the Tidewater Red
Cross Blood Bank so that the citi-
zens of Dare County might donate
blood, bot because of the scattered
population, the problems of trans
portation over the ferries etc. and
other hindrances it has not, thus
far, seemed to be practicable.
However, we have not given up the
idea and are still hoping to be able
to work out some arrangement for
this service.
We realize that many people do
not give much forethought to such
things but appear to take it for
granted that such services will
continue to be provided some way,
without their efforts, until some
thing terrible happens and they are
forced to learn the hard way.
Therefore, it is sincerely and
respectfully pointed out that, in
consideration of the fact that many
people of Dare County have re-
ceived blood which was made
available through the Tidewater
Red Cross Blood Bank and which
might not have been available
otherwise, we feel that the citizens
of Dare County have a response
bility and obligation to meet and
every reasonable effort should be
made to do so. Who knows the
next one for whom a pint, or more,
of blood will mean the difference
between life or death.
If such an incidence should oc-
cur, (and it can, very easily, al
though we sincerely hope it does
not) and the blood needed is not
available, all of us would be
shocked and grieved-possibly in
dignant, yet, what is the answer?
On Friday, February 18th, the
Blood Mobile Unit of the Tidewater
Blood Bank will be at the gymna-
SUM of Griggs High School at
Poplar Branch, North Carolina fol-
the purpose of taking blood
from 10 am. to A p.m.-Mark this
date on your calendar and make II
point to be there and offer your
pint of blood. 1t only takes a short
time after you get there. There is
very little or no pain to it and il
there is any reason why it might
not be safe for you to give blood
it will not be taken.
Come and do your part.
The pint you give may save
life. 1t could very easily be your
own life or the life of loved one
or friend.