Garretson, SD- The demand for blood, at our local hospitals, continues to surge as more patients are requiring blood transfusion for surgeries, the treatment of cancer, and many other serious medical conditions. “With the long term affects associated with the pandemic continue, we see a heavy strain our overall blood supply”, says Ken Versteeg, Executive Director, Community Blood Bank.
“We are looking for some help bring the blood supply up to stable levels and move past a severely critical blood shortage. Join us to give blood at the Garretson community blood drive on Thursday, May 12 at Garretson High School between 7:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. This is a time to remember how volunteers can impact a community by just the simple act of giving blood. Life is very unpredictable, but through the help of blood donors we can provide predictability maintaining an adequate blood supply for our community. Join in to save lives through this month of giving.” To schedule an appointment to give blood call 605-594-3451. Information can be found at log onto www.cbblifeblood.org.”
Community Blood Bank supplies over 550 units of blood each week to people in northwestern Iowa, southeastern South Dakota, and southwestern Minnesota. Giving blood is a short process that will change a patient’s outlook quickly. When a person chooses to give blood, they potentially will save up to three lives.
The blood is separated into components of platelets, plasma, and red blood cells. Each components has the potential to be transfused to a local patient requiring one of the specific product.
Trauma patients will use up to 50 blood components throughout their healing process, a heart surgery patients will use up to 6 units of blood, and a cancer patients could use up to 100 units of blood through their treatment. Volunteer blood donors can donate blood every 56 days and provide hope 24 hours a day, 7 days per week.
Donors must be at least 17 years old (16 years old with a signed parent consent form found at www.cbblifeblood.org), weigh 110 lbs or more and be in good general health the day of the donation.
Please bring an I.D. It is recommended that a person eat and drink plenty of fluid prior to donating. For more information log onto www.cbblifeblood.org or call Community Blood Bank at (605) 331-3222.
Community Blood Banks is a nonprofit, cooperative of Sanford Medical Center and Avera McKennan Hospital. Community Blood Bank is not associated with any other blood bank organizations.
