Blood Donations

The Pentagon plans to announce today a temporary halt to accepting blood donations from Persian Gulf war veterans because of a rare parasite that 19 of them brought home.And in an emergency session in Baltimore yesterday, the organization that oversees blood banking in the United States agreed to extend the ban to civilians who visited any of the eight Persian Gulf states since Aug. 1, 1990.Both moves are designed to protect people receiving blood transfusions from a disease called leishmaniasis detected in a fraction of the 541,425 military people who served in the gulf.

Wellness classes Howard County General Hospital will offer the following wellness classes in April. Classes will be held at the HCGH Wellness Center, 10710 Charter Drive, Suite 100, Columbia unless otherwise listed. Register in advance online at http://www.hcgh.org or call 410-740-7601. •Smoke-free lungs. Education and support from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday, April 18. •CPR course for the adult and child victim. Sponsored by the American Heart Association, the course will be held from 9 a.m. to noon, Saturday, April 20. This is a not a certification course.

Blood donations The Greater Chesapeake and Potomac Region of the American Red Cross is requesting blood donations. Eligible donors can call 800-GIVE-LIFE to schedule an appointment. Platelet donors should call 800-272-2123. Healthy Families gets grant A $1,500 grant has been awarded to the Healthy Families Howard County program at Howard County General Hospital by the Columbia Foundation. HFHC is a free and voluntary program for first-time parents. It assists with community resources and offers support to ease the parents' transition through pregnancy and into the first five years of parenthood.

Blood donations The Greater Chesapeake and Potomac Region of the American Red Cross is requesting blood donations. Eligible donors can call 800-GIVE-LIFE to schedule an appointment. Platelet donors should call 800-272-2123. CalendarSpiritual reflections Bon Secours Spiritual Center will offer spiritual enrichment programs at the center at 1525 Marriottsville Road, Marriottsville. Information: http://www.bonsecoursspiritualcenter.org . Registration: 410-442-1320.