January 24, 1944 THE B.C. LUMBER W ORKER Page Three -Labor’s Blood for Victory es BY CYNTHIA CARTER Fifty-thousand pints of blood! That is how much blood must pass through the Red Cross Blood Don- or’s Clinic here during 1944, if ur- gent needs of armed forces — which will immediately become more urgent when the plans for ‘the opening of the second front, agreed upon at Teheran, are put in effect—are to be met. And British Columbia labor men, are determined that thousands of pints of that blood will be the good, red blood of trade unionists! It was this determination that the blood plasma necessary for medi- cal purposes in the coming all-out offensive against fascism would not be lacking that led several prom- inent Vancouver trade unionists, among them IWA District Presi- dent Harold J. Pritchett, to suggest to clinic officials in Vancouver the calling of an all-union conference fo lay concrete plans for a huge campaign to sign up 50,000 donors. Naturally, Red Cross officials greeted the idea enthusiastically, and it was agreed to call such a conference for Friday, Fezruary 18, at the Vancouver Hotel. All labor organizations are asked to send two delegates prepared to offer definite suggestions for im- mediate action. “During the past year we have signed up 16,000 donors in Van- couver,” stated E. Lally Kenny, executive secretary of the Clinic. “This year we must increase that number to 50,000, The workers in our essential industries are mak- ing a tremendous contribution to our war effort by the production of the weapons of war, and the vol- unteer workers in blood donor clinics are ready and willing to cooperate fully with them in this campaign.” ea ee One evening recently I was able to accompany a group of shipyard and aeronautical workers, some of whom were three and four time donors, through the entire process at Vancouver Clinic. Some of them, there for the first time, were a little nervous about what would happen to them, but they were soon assurer by the “old hands” who, like Harold Pritchett, had made their sixth donation, that “it’s as easy as rolling off a log!” And it was! There was no pain, no discomfort, no ill effects and, as far as I could see, certainly no regrets—unless you could count the burly shipyard worker who Jooked as if he'd lost his last friend when it came to time to say goodbye to his pretty nurse, who had taken his pulse and smiled reassuring at him for the space of fifteen minutes. As a matter of chemical change. Then the serum fact, the toughest part of being is placed in cans, hermetically a blood donor, it seemed, was the sealed and will keep indefinitely [AUXILIARY CORNER | THE COURTENAY LADIES ‘Night Whist Drive held on De- AUXILIARY LOCAL 91 reports ' cember 18th. First Prizes, which that at the regular meeting held | were two ten pound turkeys, were December 16th, the members had|won by Mrs. T. Hanson, and Mr. fact that for eight hours before donating, the patient must restrict his diet to toast, boiled fish, shell fish, fruit, vegetables, jam, syrup, tea or coffe. He must not partake | | It is shipped in cans to every bat- tlefront of the world, where it can be prepared for use at a moment's notice by the addition of distilled honey, sugar, fruit-juices, Oxo, and water. So badly do our armed forces a pleasant time planning gifts for the little girl the Auxiliary has adopted at the Queen Alexandria Solarium. In addition to gifts all members decided to send cards and greetings so that the child’s mail bag would be full. It was decided to donate $15.00 fe Hames. Second prizes, two ‘plump chickens, went to Mr. M. ; Hanson and Mr. N. Petersen. Sup- per was served afterwards in a beautifully decorated hall. The members of the Courtenay Ladies’ Auxiliary Local 91 send of butter, cream, whole milk, cho- need this precious substance that colate, cocoa, ice cream, doughnuts,’ in the Sicilian campaign stocks ran pie, cake, meats, eggs, soup, grav-'so low that we had to purchase Jes, cheese or salad dressings. | p1o0d- from the people of Sicily. When the donor enters the clinic Présidents of both Vancouver la- his temperature is taken and his bor councils, E. E. Leary of the blood analyzed. Then he is taken’ CCL and, Birt Showler of the eee , their best wishes to all the other to the Courtenay “Y” Hostess Club 'jocals and hope they have a Happy towards a Christmas banquet for | and Successful New Year. the soldiers. Also $10.00 to the Community Chest. LAKE COWICHAN | LADIES’ The Christmas Season was cele- = ms AUXILIARY LOCAL 30 reports brated by making a festive occa- that at their meeting Decem- Ston cout | of “the reewlan (Saturday) | Nersocn three newer teres = . (enrolled. A committee was elected writing home from a hastil rigged to assist TWA Local 1-80 with a Donate your blood NOW. military hospital in Italy, Shown above is a scene on the battle fields of this war. This soldier is receiving life giving blood plasma which was possibly donated by someone you know. You too can help in this great work. fo the “bleeding room,” where ly- ing on a spotless white cot, his arm is sterilized and “frozen.” A white-smocked doctor injects the needle into the vein and not quite a pint of blood is withdrawn. Then the patient, after a few minutes rest, is served coffee and cookies in the refreshment room, He is able at once to return to work, and within the next eight or ten weeks he may again make a dona- tion. { After the bottle containing blood has been sealed it is packed with others to be taken to the Van- couver laboratory. There it is pro- cessed, put through a centrifugal machine which divides red cells (which are useless) from the pre- cious blood serum, the serum is forced from metal containers through filters into sterile bottles, and the bottles are chemically fro- zen. The frozen serum’ is dried at ;2 low temperature to prevent AFL, have donated their fifth pints, and are urging all unionists who want to see the war brought to a speedy close to register with the clinic at once. The Vancouver Clinic can handle as many as 250 donors each evening, and are ready to open the clinic five nights a week as soon as the necessary num- ber of donors is registered. . . the miracles that can be accomplished with blood plasma are almost unbelievable. Today I have seen men brought back to life. I have seen color return to pallid cheeks, I have seen the pulsebeat return to normal. And I knew that if the time had been. eight years earlier the men now sleeping peacefully room would be dead .. .” And this miracle, the use of blood: plasma in the treatment of shock (which is one of the major causes of death in war) traces back to the work of the staunch anti- fascist Canadian, Dr. Norman Be- thune. Before the rest of the world truly realized the danger of fas- cism, he was organizing his Cana- dian Blood Transfusion Unit which saved the lives of thousands of Spanish Republican fighters. Lat- er, in China, working amid heart- breaking conditions, he finally caught an infection and died. But his memory will never die; for the principles discovered by Bethune are the same ones used today— and they are still saving the lives of fighters against fascism. At the coming trade union con- jference labor will be given the opportunity great contribution to the winning of the war. The call to such a con- ference is a direct call for action. And British Columbia labor union- of making another Not long ago an army doctor, ists will not be slow to answer! TRANSFER — TAXI Third Avenue nee 232 AMBULANCE wae 699 George C: Shead Ltd. Est. 1912 MILLWOOD. GAS, OIL, REPAIRS, STORAGE TRUCKS: Covered, Dump Port Alberni G cs Ml *. MW ° Gifts” *« J. W. Harris NU-WAY “Such Lovely Gifts” STEAM LAUNDRY China ... Glass ... Stationery ... Novelties For MODERN, QUICK SERVICE . . . PHONE 454° PORT ALBERNI, B.C. ; Port Alberni, B.C. Office and Plant - - 2nd & Atholl St. AS y in the next; declared: ' dance and card party which was ,to be held Dee. 18th. The Aux- iliary was responsible for the card games, which consisted of Bridge, Whist and Cribbage, and for the supper. The Auxiliaries‘ Christmas Par- ty, which was held in the Com- munity Hall on December 11th was very successful with 85 members and their husbands present. Bro- ther Bergren, George Grafton and Madeline Hornsey were invited guests, The next meeting of the Lake Cowichan Ladies Auxiliary is January 6th. ea * Ladies’ Auxiliary No. 96 met Tuesday, January 11, in Duncan. One new member was enrolled. Mrs. George Hawk and Mrs. George Parlee were nominated to attend the yearly convention of the IWA in Duncan on January 16. Mrs. A. Heyd. and Mrs. George Hawk were nominated to attend the. Convention of the B.C. Dis- trict Council Ladiés’ Auxiliary at Ladysmith, January 23. Plans were made for a First An- nual Birthday Celebration on Feb. 9, in the K. P. Hall in Duncan. The ladies decided to donate $25 to the Cowichan Health Centre. CONNOR Washers $119.50 Write or call for your Registration Card W LIMITED Argyle St. Box 652 Phone 838 PORT ALBERNI, B.C. Rod & Gun Hotel Refreshments Between Stops PARKSVILLE - B.C.