Lifeblood is in critical need of both blood and platelet donors.

The warmer months are traditionally low donation times, and this year is no exception.

“We have depleted our inventory of O+ units, and all other types are low,” said Jennifer Balink, vice president of donor relations for Lifeblood. “We need everyone to get involved today; hundreds of patients’ lives depend on volunteer blood donors.”

In addition to being out of whole blood units, Lifeblood is also in need of platelet donors.

Women—it is time to prioritize your health! As part of National Women’s Health Week (May 13-18, 2012), Planned Parenthood Greater Memphis Region is urging women in the Mid-South to schedule preventive checkups, including breast cancer screenings, pelvic exams, and, if recommended, a Pap test.

“The health of women affects our families, our partners, and our communities,” said Tarsha Elliott, RN, BSN, Planned Parenthood Greater Memphis Region’s Director of Clinic Services. “As we honor our mothers this week, we should also take the time to encourage them, and all the women in our lives, to schedule the regular checkups they need to live longer, healthier and happier lives.”

Planned Parenthood Greater Memphis Region offers a wide range of preventive health services, including lifesaving cancer screenings, birth control, diagnosis and treatment of precancerous cervical conditions, breast exams, the HPV vaccine and STD testing and treatment.

Planned Parenthood Greater Memphis Region (PPGMR) is proud to participate again this year in a nationwide campaign to increase testing and treatment for sexually transmitted infections called “GYT: Get Yourself Tested.”

The GYT campaign is a public information partnership between Planned Parenthood Federation of America, MTV, the Kaiser Family Foundation, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other national partners.

The campaign is designed to address the high rates of sexually transmitted infections among young people in U.S. One in two young men and women will get a sexually transmitted disease by age 25—and most won’t know it. Untreated infections lead to complications such as pelvic inflammatory disease and infertility.

Testing for sexually transmitted infections is a core service offered by Planned Parenthood Greater Memphis Region.