Local residents

responded to the area blood shortage in a big way during the monthly community

blood drive at The Gathering Place in Peachtree City Monday afternoon.

A total of

52 pints were donated, over and above the preset goal of 30 units, according

to Candice Gulden of the American Red Cross.

"We really

appreciate all the donors from the Peachtree City area," Gulden said.

"We love our loyal donors and we depend on them to make sure blood

is available in Georgia."

Traditionally,

the summer months bring blood shortages partially because of the unavailability

of high school and college students, who typically account for 15 percent

of the area's blood supply, Gulden said. Also, because of it being summer,

area businesses are less likely to hold blood drives themselves, she added.

The response

of local residents was particularly important in light of the summer shortage,

Gulden said.

"People

came out and responded in a time of great need," Gulden said. "If

all our donors were like the ones in Peachtree City, we wouldn't have

shortages."

Victims of

auto accidents and transplant patients can use up to 100 pints of blood

at one time, Gulden said. Sickle Cell Anemia patients typically use 10-15

pints at a time while heart bypass and Leukemia patients typically use

between two and six pints of blood.

For more information

on blood donation or to sign up your business to hold a blood drive, contact

the American Red Cross at 1-800-GIVE-LIFE.

"We'd

love to have businesses set up blood drives for the summer," Gulden

said.

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