October 25, 2014--13

ST. CROIX BOARD OF REALTORS SPONSORS

BLOOD DRIVE WITH JFL'S PATIENT FAMILY
COUNCIL TO BRING GIFT OF LIFE

~Providing Cost Savings and Building Community
Partnerships~

On Saturday afternoon, the Gov. Juan F. Luis Hospital
was the beneficiary of a community blood drive organized
by the St. Croix Board of Realtors, JFL's Patient Family
Council and team members of JFLs Blood Bank.

JFL Hospital CEO Dr. Kendall Griffith stated, "Donating
blood provides an opportunity for the community to turn
compassion into action. It empowers individuals to perform
extraordinary acts of service and generosity. Many life-
saving medical treatments and procedures involve blood
transfusions, for example, and we at JFL appreciate that
support toward protecting the life and health of others."

The blood donation process includes taking a health
history and mini physical of the donor. Approximately one
pint of blood is collected and then stored in iced coolers
until it is transported to the JFL blood bank for processing
and testing. A specially equipped hospital van serves as a
mobile patient donation center that stores the blood until it
is transported to JFL.

St. Croix Board of Realtors member Isabel Brady
participated in the blood drive and stated, "I'm happy to
give the gift of life to those who need it and especially to
share that with the Juan Luis Hospital."

In order to meet the needs of the community, JFLs
Blood Bank Team conducts blood drives throughout the
year and also purchases its blood supply from the Red
Cross blood bank. Acquiring additional supplies from the
community not only raises awareness but serves as a cost
savings measure for the hospital.

Another St. Croix Board of Realtors Member Julie
Rasmussen also participated and highlighted the
importance of community sponsorship. She said, "Our
organization is very community oriented. We wanted to do
one of our first activities for the hospital.

Held at the New Seaside Market in Gallows Bay on St.
Croix, the event was the first annual blood drive
sponsored by the St. Croix Board of Realtors and JFL's
Patient Family Council.

St. Croix Board of Realtors Member Lorraine Williams
expressed her support of the hospital: "I believe JFL is the
heart of our community, and we want the best for JFL and
St. Croix. We will look at what other activities can be done
to support JFL.

Griffith thanks the St. Croix Board of Realtors and JFL's
Patient Family Council for organizing Saturday's blood
drive. A special thanks also to Mike Yusuf, the Owner of
Seaside Market, for offering the use of the parking area
and for including the blood drive announcement in
Seaside Markets advertisements this week. Griffith also
thanks JFL staff for making this event possible and
members of the community who came out in support of
this worthwhile effort.

Other organizations who would like to partner with
JFL's Patient Family Council may contact Nancy Martin
at pfcdialogue@gmail.com .


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