Successful Drive for Florida Blood Services Held at Ybor Square

Online, February 17, 2012 (Newswire.com) - YBOR CITY: 25 volunteers stepped up to donate blood on Friday the 10th of February at the Florida Blood Services (FBS) Blood Drive, sponsored by the Church of Scientology's Volunteer Ministers of Tampa Bay. The event was held at the historic Ybor Square in the heart of Ybor City.

This is the first blood drive of the year for the Volunteer Ministers and at least two more are scheduled.

"When I tell people that one pint of blood can save up to three lives, they are flabbergasted, they really have no idea," said Judy Fagerman, the Director of the Tampa Bay Volunteer Ministers. She also noted that 1,000 donors are needed every day to meet the needs of the hospitals served by FBS.

80% of all donations come from planned blood drives. Donated blood helps people recover from auto accidents, cancer treatment and other surgeries and transfusions. Because the component parts of blood can be broken down (into red blood cells, platelets and plasma) and used for specific purposes, one pint can save up to three lives.

Platelets, for example, are one component of the blood that are used to prevent excessive bleeding. Treatments like chemotherapy and radiation destroy platelets and death from excessive bleeding can be a real issue. Therefore, transfusions of platelets are given to people suffering from Leukemia and other cancers greatly increasing their chances of survival.

In addition to the FBS bloodmobiles, the Volunteer Ministers brought out their signature yellow tent to the courtyard of Ybor Square. People interested in finding out more about the Volunteer Ministers and their work were able to get their questions answered.

Several visitors received 'assists', processes that Volunteer Ministers use to help people get over the spiritual trauma associated with illnesses and injuries.

"One woman who has a bulging disk thought the assist was relaxing and she loved that it caused tingling as she has some numbness in areas due to a pinched nerve," said Fagerman. "Another woman felt an easing of her headache she'd had all day."

But the real focus was on Florida Blood Services and getting donations to save lives in the Tampa Bay area.

"This is a simple way to help, it does not take much time, maybe a half hour, and it is something that really makes a difference," said Fagerman. "L. Ron Hubbard - the founder of Scientology - said in the Code of a Scientologist, that we are to "make the world a saner, better place" and this is one of the ways that we can help our community here in Tampa. Help is our watchword."

The Volunteer Ministers run many different programs throughout the year. For more information, please contact Judy Fagerman at 813-872-0722.