The Commonwealth Beat with Laura LeBeau - Episode 37 - 5/26/2024

The Commonwealth Beat with Laura LeBeau is a statewide Public Affairs program airing on all Seven Mountains Media Pennsylvania radio stations.  With Memorial Day long considered the "unofficial" start of summer, and kids soon out of school for the summer, many Pennsylvanians are gearing up for summer vacations and travel.  That gives rise to the possibility of accidents and other types of trauma situations that may require blood transfusions.  And that's where the the American Red Cross steps in, supplying most of the nation's blood supply.  But it's a daunting task every day, because there are also people who require blood components, such as platelets, to help them survive a variety of maladies.  Laura Burke of the American Red Cross Harrisburg Region will discuss the importance of blood collections. May is National Mental Health Awareness Month.  Dr. Matthew Hurford of UPMC's Community Care Behavioral Health Organization will discuss issues surrounding mental health.