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COLUMNS: SOUTH GIBSON: Lincoln’s birthday was very appropriately observed here by A. J. Roper Post, G.A.R, who met at the school building at 2 p.m., with D. S. Michael, chairman. Selections from the life of Lincoln were read, followed by Prof. Knox Tingley, who recited one of Lincoln’s favorite poems. Selections were also read by Hon. George B. Tiffany, and a good talk was given by Hon. G. R. Resseguie, telling incidents of the war that he had taken part in while a soldier. The occasion was enlivened by music and singing by the audience and school children. The point of the occasion was to incite in the children loyalty to the old flag and encourage them to make the most of themselves, as Lincoln did. Rev. Mead was present and took part. LAUREL LAKE: A very pleasant party was held at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Edward Boyle, at Liberty, Wednesday evening. About 50 were present, and dancing was enjoyed. Lunch was also served. Music was furnished by Patrick O’Day, on the violin, with piano accompaniment. FOREST CITY: The Forest City Light Company was taken over last week by the Scranton Electric Company and the plant in the former town was closed down, the current for Forest City to be supplied from the plant in Carbondale. OAKLAND: Henry Turner, veteran of the Civil war, has just received a check for $2.80 from the United States Government. Mr. Turner, who was in Sherman’s army, was taken prisoner at Salisbury, N.C., and on April 12, 1865 was released from prison and marched from Augusta to Savannah, a distance of 65 miles, and the check sent him was his traveling fee, which has been due since that time. [Henry Turner, at age 94 in 1938, was one of the last three remaining Civil War veterans of Susquehanna County, and died in October of that year. He was a member of the 143d Regiment, NY Volunteers and for 40 years a machinist in the Erie Railroad shops at Susquehanna.] MONTROSE: A free kindergarten was opened in the Library building by Mrs. E .J. Perot. Any children, from 4 to 6 years of age, who are to enter it, should do so by Monday next. The hours are from 9:30 to 11:30, five mornings in the week. AND: On Monday Mr. S. A. Pettis celebrated his 98th birthday at the home of his daughter, Mr. C. D .Hawley, on Grow Ave. For his extreme age, Mr. Pettis is in remarkably good health and frequently walks out unattended and has traveled, even within the last few years, considerable distances on the train. Sound and active both physically and mentally, the indications points strongly to his passing the century mark, and a host of friends unite in congratulating him, having lived a life that has been well spent. [Samuel A. Pettis died 16 April 1910, aged 99 years, 2 mo. and 1 day.] LYNN, Springville Twp.: We forgot to mention in last week’s items that Miss Alfa Stark, our popular school teacher, took 26 of her pupils for a straw ride to Tunkhannock, where they took in the sights of the town and after taking some light refreshments, returned to their homes in the early evening without any mishap, feeling that it was one of the greatest events of their lives. ELK LAKE: The lake was covered with fishermen Monday, the last day of the open season, and Game and Fish Warden Youngs was on hand with scales and measure to see that the law was not violated. AND: W. H. Tanner’s sale of groceries and dry goods for one week recently amounted to about $200. Not so bad for a small town. DIMOCK: B. V. Crisman is going into [the] sheep raising business, having bought two large flocks for his farm recently. HOPBOTTOM: The month of February, 1908, was zero weather every day, oftentimes 20 degrees below zero. This year thus far has been very different. AND: A great deal of sickness prevails in this vicinity and the doctors are busy. NEW MILFORD: The L. A. S. of the South New Milford Baptist church held a valentine social at the home of Mr. and Mrs. J. B. Tompkins, Friday evening last. Flags and other patriotic decorations brightened the rooms and table, and ice cream and cake were served to about 90 people, after which games and music were indulged in until a late hour, when all returned home, having had a most delightful time. UNIONDALE: George Esmay has got a fine horse for sale. He has two and don’t need but one. AND: The Erie Railroad Co. is doing a large amount of work on the railroad culvert across the outlet of Lewis Lake, putting in a new concrete arch inside of the old one, as the old one was cracking. AND: The Uniondale Milling Co. seems to be doing a lively business these days by the way the teams go to and from the mill. Money buys the feed and the feed makes the mare go. BROOKDALE: One of the young men from Brackney is afraid to go home in the dark, and that accounts for those morning drives. RUSH: S. B. McCain, Rush’s popular merchant, who has been a persistent user of printers ink, has been in business there 35 years and in his announcement today he informs his many customers that he was never so well prepared for their wants, and at satisfactory prices, as now. THOMPSON: The pupils of the school gave very commendable exercises on the 100th anniversary of the birth of Abraham Lincoln, last Friday afternoon. A number of the old soldiers were present and commander L. B .Whitney and comrade P. R. Tower were also heard on the occasion. HARFORD: There will be a masquerade box social at the Grange hall, Feb. 22, boxes to be sold at auction. Everybody mask, the young people especially. NEWS BRIEF: A dispatch from St. Paul, Minn., states that snow white flour will soon be a thing of the past. In its place comes flour of a creamy, almost green color. Sec. of Agriculture Wilson’s order against the bleaching of flour by millers went into effect Feb. 1, but in order to give millers a chance to dispose of the bleached stock on hand they are permitted to continue its sale until June 9 next. The further bleaching of new flour, however, must cease. Sodium nitrate is used in the bleaching process.
From the Desk of the D.A. For those interested in statistics, it is that time of year when I can share with you some numbers from 2008 and how they compare with previous years. Unfortunately, last year was a busy one. In total, there were 556 adult criminal filings (misdemeanor or felony cases) in 2008. In 2007, there had been approximately 479. There was approximately a 16 percent increase in criminal filings in 2008 from the previous year. Over the past several years, we have seen a consistent increase in criminal case filings. In 2006, we had a total of 439 adult criminal cases, while 2005 had only 388 adult criminal cases. From 2005 to 2008, there has been a 43 percent increase in the adult caseload. In 2008, the number of DUI filings increased dramatically. There were 153 DUI cases in 2008, which was an increase of approximately 35 percent from 2007. Several years ago, we only had 81 DUI arrests for the entire year in the county – so the total number of DUI arrests has nearly doubled in the span of a few years. Thus, the increase in the caseload can be attributed to the rise in DUI arrests over the last several years. In terms of the DUI arrests, the State Police accounted for 53 percent, local police departments accounted for 29 percent, and the County DUI Task Force accounted for 18 percent. In pure numbers, the Task Force had 28 DUI arrests for 2008, with the average blood alcohol content for Task Force arrests being over 0.17 percent, which represented an increase from the previous year where the Task Force made 24 arrests with an average blood alcohol content of 0.14 percent. Christian Chludzinski, a volunteer student intern in our office, is conducting a study of DUI offenses in Susquehanna County. As part of his efforts, he has created a DUI map for Susquehanna County which has placed a dot on the approximate location of each DUI arrest in 2008. For those interested, the map can be viewed on the website under the DUI section. As part of his analysis, it was also discovered that 31 percent of the DUI arrests in 2008 resulted from a vehicle accident or crash. In 10 percent of those accidents, the drunk driver actually hit another vehicle. This statistic highlights the dangers associated with drunk driving, not only to other motorists, but to the drunk driver as well. As expected, the vast majority of drunk drivers were males (86 percent). Interestingly, the age of the offender was fairly spread out across the different age groups, with 8 percent being under 20, 33 percent between 21 and 30, 19 percent between 31 and 40, 25 percent between 41 and 50, and 15 percent over 50. It was a little surprising to find that 40% of the DUI offenders were over 40 years of age. In terms of repeat offenders, 28 percent of the DUI offenders in 2008 had prior DUI offenses – and 12 percent of the offenders had a suspended license. While this figure may seem high, it could be turned around to say that 72 percent of the DUI arrests were first time offenders, which means that the vast majority of cases in 2008 were not repeat offenders. It is still disappointing that over 40 offenders in 2008 had previous DUI convictions. I know that the Correctional Facility and the Probation Department both work hard at making certain that offenders have the necessary counseling services available to them to assist in their recovery from alcohol abuse. These efforts are vital if we hope to reduce the number of repeat offenders that end up back in the criminal justice system. The student intern is continuing to work on various statistical and mapping projects. We plan to post all of his work on the website for public access. If you have any ideas, please let us know and we may be able to incorporate your concept into his projects. Please submit any questions, concerns, or comments to Susquehanna County District Attorney’s Office, P.O. Box 218, Montrose, Pennsylvania 18801 or at our website www.SusquehannaCounty-DA.org or discuss this and all articles at http://dadesk.blogspot.com/.
The Healthy Geezer Q. Are cosmetics safe? Cosmetics include makeup, hair dyes, perfumes, skin creams, lotions, nail polishes, toothpastes and deodorants. Unlike drugs, which are used to treat or prevent disease, cosmetics do not affect the body's structure or functions. In 1938, Congress passed the U.S. Food, Drug, and Cosmetics Act to protect consumers. Under the law, cosmetics must be made and packaged in clean factories; cannot contain poison, rotten, or harmful ingredients; may only use color additives that are approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration; and must have a clear, truthful label. The FDA does not test cosmetics before they are sold in stores. The FDA can take action against companies who break the law. Some products are both cosmetics and drugs. For example, an antidandruff shampoo is a cosmetic because it cleans hair, but it is also a drug because it treats dandruff. These products must meet the standards for both cosmetics and drugs. Some cosmetic makers use the term “cosmeceutical” to refer to products that have drug-like benefits. The term has no meaning under the law. You can tell if you're buying a cosmeceutical by checking the container to see if the first ingredient listed is an “active ingredient.” The active ingredient is the chemical that makes the product effective, and the manufacturer must have proof that it's safe for its intended use. Hypoallergenic cosmetics are products that manufacturers claim cause fewer allergic reactions than other products. There are no federal standards for using the term hypoallergenic; it can mean whatever a company wants it to mean. Cosmetic makers do not have to prove their claims to the FDA. Some products that have “natural” ingredients can cause allergic reactions. If you have an allergy to certain plants or animals, you could have an allergic reaction to cosmetics with those things in them. Some cosmetics can cause acne. Choose “non-comedogenic” make-up and hair care products. This means they don't close the pores in your skin. Serious problems from cosmetics are rare. The most common injury from cosmetics is from scratching the eye with a mascara wand. Never apply mascara while in a moving vehicle. Sharing make-up is a no-no. Cosmetic brushes and sponges pick up bacteria from the skin. And if you moisten brushes with saliva, the problem can be worse. If mascara flakes into your eyes while you sleep, you might wake up with itching, bloodshot eyes, infections, or eye scratches. Remove all make-up before going to bed. It is dangerous to use aerosol hairspray near heat. Until hairspray is fully dry, it is flammable. Aerosol sprays or powders also can cause lung damage if they are inhaled deeply into the lungs. Here are some more tips for the use of cosmetics: keep makeup containers clean and closed tight when not in use; wash your hands before you put on makeup; do not add saliva or water to makeup; throw away makeup if the color or smell changes; don’t store your make-up above 85 degrees Fahrenheit; stop using a product if you get a rash, itching, redness, sneezing or wheezing; do not keep mascara too long, some companies say three months is long enough; do not use eye makeup if you have an eye infection, throw away eye makeup you were using; do not use cosmetics near your eyes unless they are meant for your eyes – for example, don’t use a lip liner as an eyeliner, you may spread germs from your mouth to your eyes; kohl – also known as al-kahl, kajal, or surma – used in some parts of the world for enhancing eyes, is unapproved in the United States and has been linked to lead poisoning in children; don't dye eyelashes and eyebrows, no color additives are approved by FDA for permanent dyeing or tinting of eyelashes and eyebrows, permanent eyelash and eyebrow tints and dyes have been known to cause serious eye injuries. If you have a question, please write to fred@healthygeezer.com.
Library Chitchat Editor’s Note: We are pleased to bring you a new column submitted by the Susquehanna County Library. It will appear twice a month. Change is the current buzzword in America. Change is good, but sometimes it is nice to be able to count on an “old friend.” Your local library. The Susquehanna County Library was established more than 100 years ago. It has developed into a library system that has embraced new technologies, while keeping the familiar things that we expect in libraries. Over the years, three branches have been added to the original library in Montrose –Susquehanna, Forest City and Hallstead-Great Bend. We may not think of it as such, but the Library is a service agency. Its very existence is geared to meet the needs of its patrons. The library also changes to meet the needs of its community. Just what can our expanded library system do for you? Do you need computer access? Are you interested in viewing some of the latest movies on DVD? Does the print on books seem to have shrunk? Do you have a lengthy commute and would you like to use the time to the max? Perhaps in this current economic climate, you are looking for ways to cut down on expenses while keeping up with the world around us. The Library can be your answer. Why buy when you can borrow? Only slightly more than one-third of Susquehanna County Library residents have a “free” library card. We would like to increase this number. Stop in today. See what your library has to offer. Remember, the Susquehanna County Library is your resource for lifetime learning.
What’s Bugging You? Indian meal moths: pantry prowlers Having indulged my goldfish with the last few pellets of dried, smelly fish food, I went to the pantry cupboard to retrieve another packet of the food that I rediscovered some while ago. Much to my disgust, the packet didn’t contain the nice firm, round pellets that the fish so enjoyed. Instead it was filled with a tangle of silk threads, small dark particles, and tiny creeping “worms”. It was no longer fish food; instead, it was some repulsive insect’s home. I had just disturbed some Indian meal worms’ utopia.
An Indian meal moth larval caterpillar. Indian meal moths, Plodia interpunctella, sometimes called flour moths or miller moths, are common pests of grain products. They are a serious problem in commercial grain storage facilities throughout the United States. In Pennsylvania, they are primarily pests of the home pantry, although they are also becoming a nuisance of on-farm corn storage. The larvae of the Indian meal moth feed on cereals, cornmeal, powdered milk, dried fruit, nuts, chocolate, spices, graham and whole-wheat flour, bran, dry dog food, birdseed, fish food, and other dry stored food products. Dried flower arrangements and craft items containing seeds are also susceptible to infestation. Additionally, household caches of nuts and seeds, hidden by squirrels or rodents, are likely habitats for the moths. The larvae are capable of chewing through paper, cardboard, cloth, plastic or burlap containers.
An adult Indian meal moth. The adult moths are about three-eighths inches long and have a wingspread of five-eighths inches. Their antennae are nearly as long as the body. The hair-fringed forewings are gray at the base, changing to reddish-brown at the tip, with a pattern of dark bands laterally transversing the wings. The hind wings are uniformly silver gray with feathery edges. The adult Indian meal moths are most active at dusk (crepuscular), flying in a zigzag pattern. Attracted to lights, the moths also fly about after dark, often skimming past the television or computer monitor. Mating at night, the fertilized females will lay between 100 and 400 eggs, either singularly or in batches of twelve to thirty. The tiny white ovate eggs are deposited on or near a potential food source. The adult moths do not eat and usually die within a week or so of emerging from their pupa. Depending on temperature and environmental conditions, the larvae begin to emerge in two to fourteen days after egg deposition. The newly hatched larvae, being extremely tiny, take up residence in small crevices of the food surface, where they spin a silk tunnel-like case. There they deposit frass (insect fecal matter) and molted skin. These contaminated silk passages tend to bind the fine food particles together and are indicative of the pest’s presence. The larvae are not burrowers and will primarily restrict their feeding to the surface of tightly packed foods. However, looser, smaller household packages may be more conducive to the larvae feeding throughout the food. In whole grain stores, feeding is usually restricted to the top several inches. Developmental rate of the caterpillars is dependent on temperature and food availability. With optimal conditions, the caterpillars can reach pupation in a month, however typically it is much longer, sometimes up to a year. The mature larvae are about one-half inch in length. Their body is segmented and creamy white, with a green, pink, or brown hue, depending on its food source. The head and the following several segments are a dark brown or orange. The caterpillars have three pairs of true thoracic legs (near the head), and five sets of fleshy, abdominal legs (prolegs) that terminate with a hook. When the mature caterpillar is about to pupate, it leaves the food source and meanders about until it locates a suitable site. It leaves behind a silken thread wherever it crawls. The larvae spin a silk cocoon, becoming a light brown pupa. An adult Indian meal moth will emerge from the cocoon in 4 to 30 days. In a heated structure, one egg to egg generation can be completed in as little as 4 weeks, creating the possibility of 6 or more generations per year. With overlapping generations, it is possible to simultaneously observe all stages of metamorphosis in an infested home. Inspection and detection are vital for the control and elimination of the Indian meal moth in the home. The best time to scout for the adults is at dusk. After dark, the flying moths can also be observed near lights and television screens. Contaminated food can be identified by the trails of webbing and minute holes in the containers. Most dried foods on the pantry shelves are susceptible and should be closely scrutinized. Foods that have been stored for a long time and those in opened, loosely sealed or thin containers are especially vulnerable. Infested food should be immediately removed and either discarded or treated to remove the pests. Depending on the nature of the food, heat or cold might be utilized to destroy the infesting eggs and larvae. Cold treatment involves placing the food in a freezer, at temperatures 0 degrees F or colder, for 4 to 7 days, making sure that the food is not adversely affected by freezing. Heat treatment requires the warming of the food to 140 degrees F for up to an hour. Again, consider the effects of heat on the food and avoid heating finely ground materials such as flour, due to the risk of explosion. Keep in mind that neither of these temperature treatments will remove the contaminants, eggs, larvae nor undesirable color, flavor or odor from the infested food. Complete disposal seems to be the best option to prevent reinfestation of new, replacement staples. Removing all items from the shelves, and thoroughly vacuuming and cleaning with soap or bleach can prevent reinfestations. Removal of all spilled food is critical. Hidden pupae may give rise to more adult moths, capable of renewing the cycle. At this stage it is critical that any susceptible food items be stored in tightly sealed, rigid metal or plastic containers. Not only is this the best cure for infestation, but it is also the best means of prevention. Although there are indoor insecticides labeled for use against these pests, it is usually not recommended that they be used in food storage areas. If thorough cleanup procedures are employed, insecticides seldom provide any additional measure of control. There are a few insecticides licensed for spot application in cracks and crevices only. No insecticide should ever be applied in such a manner as to come into direct contact with food, food preparation surfaces, or utensils. There are commercially available “traps” for Indian meal moths. These use the sex pheromone (attractant) to lure males to a sticky death. Such traps are useful in identifying areas of infestation, but are ineffectual (despite some manufacturers’ claims) in reducing populations. The uncaptured, mated females will continue to lay eggs and reinfest the pantry. Questions, comments and suggestions regarding this article, identifications or any other insect-related matters are welcome. Please email them to bugman95@gmail.com.
Food For Thought No Food For Thought This Week EARTH TALK Dear EarthTalk: Is it true that some baby bottles contain chemicals that can cause health problems for babies? If so, how can I find alternatives that are safer? Amy Gorman, Berkeley, CA No links connecting specific human illnesses to chemicals oozing out of baby bottles have been proven definitively. Nonetheless, many parents are heeding the call of scientists to switch to products with less risk. A 2008 report by American and Canadian environmental researchers entitled “Baby’s Toxic Bottle” found that plastic polycarbonate baby bottles leach dangerous levels of Bisphenol-A (BPA), a synthetic chemical that mimics natural hormones and can send bodily processes into disarray, when heated. All six of the leading brands of baby bottles tested – Avent, Disney/The First Years, Dr. Brown’s, Evenflo, Gerber and Playtex – leaked what researchers considered dangerous amounts of BPA. The report calls on major retailers selling these bottles – including Toys “R” Us, Babies “R” Us, CVS, Target, Walgreen’s and Wal-Mart – to switch to safer products. According to the report, BPA is a “developmental, neural and reproductive toxicant that mimics estrogen and can interfere with healthy growth and body function.” Researchers cite numerous animal studies demonstrating that the chemical can damage reproductive, neurological and immune systems during critical stages of development. It has also been linked to breast cancer and to the early onset of puberty. So what’s a concerned parent to do? Glass bottles are a tried-and-true chemical-free solution, and they are widely available, though very breakable. To the rescue are several companies making BPA-free plastic bottles (out of either PES/polyamide or polypropylene instead of polycarbonate). Some of the leaders are BornFree, thinkbaby, Green to Grow, Nuby, Momo Baby, Mother’s Milkmate and Medela’s. These brands are available at natural food stores, directly from manufacturers, or from online vendors. Most of the major brands selling BPA-containing bottles are now also offering or planning to offer BPA-free versions of their products. Consumers should read labels and packaging carefully to make sure that any product they are considering buying says unequivocally that it does not contain the chemical. Unfortunately, switching to a BPA-free bottle is no guarantee the chemical won’t make its way into your baby’s bloodstream anyway. BPA is one of the 50 most-produced chemicals in the world. According to the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), it is used in everything from plastic water jugs labeled #7 to plastic take-out containers, baby bottles and canned food liners. It is so omnipresent that the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) has found that 95 percent of Americans have the chemical in their urine. Also, nursing mothers – especially those who haven’t discarded their old BPA-containing Nalgene water bottles – may be passing the chemical along through their breast milk. And if that weren’t enough, BPA is also used in the lining of many metal liquid baby formula cans. The nonprofit Environmental Working Group (EWG) has posted email links to the consumer affairs offices of the major formula manufacturers so concerned parents can ask them to remove BPA from their product offerings and packaging. CONTACTS: Baby’s Toxic Bottle Report, www.chej.org/documents/BabysToxicBottleFinal.pdf; NRDC, www.nrdc.org; CDC, www.cdc.gov; EWG, www.ewg.org. Dear EarthTalk: How much “old growth” forest is left in the United States and is it all protected from logging at this point? John Foye, via e-mail As crazy as it sounds, no one really knows how much old growth is left in America’s forested regions, mainly because various agencies and scientists have different ideas about how to define the term. Generally speaking, “old growth” refers to forests containing trees often hundreds, sometimes thousands, of years old. But even when there is agreement on a specific definition, differences in the methods used to inventory remaining stands of old growth forest can produce major discrepancies. Or so complains the National Commission on Science for Sustainable Forestry (NCSSF) in its recent report, “Beyond Old Growth: Older Forests in a Changing World.” In 1991, for example, the U.S. Forest Service and the nonprofit Wilderness Society each released its own inventory of old-growth forests in the Pacific Northwest and northern California. They both used the Forest Service’s definition based on the number, age and density of large trees per acre, the characteristics of the forest canopy, the number of dead standing trees and fallen logs and other criteria. However, because each agency used different remote sensing techniques to glean data, the Forest Service came up with 4.3 million acres of old-growth and the Wilderness Society found only two million acres. The NCSSF also studied the data, and they concluded that 3.5 million acres (or six percent) of the region’s 56.8 million acres of forest qualified as old growth – that is, largely trees over 30 inches in diameter with complex forest canopies. By broadening the definition to include older forest with medium-diameter trees and both simple and complex canopies, NCSSF said their figure would go up substantially. In other parts of the country, less than one percent of Northeast forest is old growth, though mature forests that will become old growth in a few decades are more abundant. The Southeast has even less acreage – a 1993 inventory found about 425 old growth sites across the region, equaling only a half a percent of total forest area. The Southwest has only a few scattered pockets of old-growth (mostly Ponderosa Pine), but for the most part is not known for its age-old trees. Old-growth is even scarcer in the Great Lakes. It is hard to say whether the remaining pockets of scattered old-growth in areas besides the Pacific Northwest will remain protected, but environmentalists are working hard to save what they can in northern California, Oregon and Washington. The outgoing Bush administration recently announced plans to increase logging across Oregon’s remaining old-growth reserves by some 700 percent, in effect overturning the landmark Northwest Forest Plan of 1994 that set aside most of the region’s remaining old growth as habitat for the endangered spotted owl. Protecting remaining old-growth is important for many reasons. “These areas provide some of the cleanest drinking water in the world, critical salmon and wildlife habitat, world-class recreational opportunities and critical carbon storage in our fight against global warming,” says Jonathan Jelen of the nonprofit Oregon Wild, adding that as much as 20 percent of the emissions related to global warming can be attributed to deforestation and poor forest management. “A growing body of evidence is showing the critical role that forests – and old-growth forests in particular – can play in mitigating climate change.” CONTACTS: NCSSF, http://ncseonline.org/NCSSF/; Oregon Wild, www.oregonwild.org GOT AN ENVIRONMENTAL QUESTION? Send it to: EarthTalk, c/o E/The Environmental Magazine, P.O. Box 5098, Westport, CT 06881; submit it at: www.emagazine.com/earthtalk/thisweek/ or e-mail: earthtalk@emagazine.com. Read past columns at: www.emagazine.com/earthtalk/archives.php.
Barnes-Kasson Corner National Donor Week February 15 – 21 Barnes-Kasson Hospital is observing National Donor Week, February 15through 21. Blood and organ transplants are some of the most life-saving medical procedures practiced today. It is also one of the most needed treatments prescribed for patients. According to Organ Donor.Gov, almost 95,000 people are in need of an organ for transplant, and every two seconds in America, someone needs a blood transfusion. There are two main methods of obtaining blood from a donor. The most used is to directly take the blood from a vein. Usually, red blood cells and plasma are separated, since most recipients need only a specific component for transfusions The second method of taking blood is to separate the contents of the blood using a filter, store the desired part, and return the rest to the donor. This process is called apheresis, and it is usually done with a machine specifically designed for this separating blood cells. Organ donation is much more complex than that of blood donation. In order to donate an organ, a person must usually be dead or donating an organ that one can live without. To donate, one must register as a donor, and pass the requirements to donate. Organs must be healthy and free of any disease that could harm the recipient. Along with blood and organ donation, is bone marrow donation. A bone marrow transplant is the cure for many diseases, some even being different forms of cancer. To donate marrow, the marrow of the recipient must match that of the donor. Usually, a perfect match is found within a close family member. If a family member does not match the recipient, the National Marrow Donor Program Registry database is searched for an unrelated individual whose tissue type is a close match. If you'd like to become a volunteer donor, the process is straightforward and simple. Anyone between the ages of 18 and 60 and in good health can become a donor. However, you should talk to your doctor first before making this decision.
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