The Red Cross is urging people to donate blood this summer to ease shortages that have seen blood supplies dwindle to less than a days worth in some parts of the country. Blood collections are typically slow in the summer as people take vacations and skip donating. But this year’s donor drought is more intense than expected. An increase in blood donor restrictions and misperceptions about the blood supply may be contributing to the shortages.
Mary Taylor, Blood Donor Program Chairman, said, “This is the first blood drive of the new fiscal year and Trigg County’s goal is 425 pints. Therefore, the goal for this drive is 100 pints of blood; this means that there must be at least 115 potential donors’ sign up to give blood in order to have any chance of meeting our goal.”
Mary is urging all who gave at the last blood drive to give again at this drive and bring a friend.
To be eligible to give, donors must be healthy, at least 17 years old, weigh at least 110 pounds and not given blood in the last 56 days. Volunteer blood donors will be required to provide identification prior to donating blood. The preferred identifier for donors is a current drivers license or a Red Cross Blood donor card issued to the donor. Without identification, a prospective donor will not be permitted to donate.
There will be a $ 50 Savings Bond and sandwiches, cookies and drinks will be served.
This press release was submitted by Mary Taylor, Chairman Trigg County Blood Donor Program. 522-3967.
