Lions Club blood drive nets 26 units

New Rockford Lions Club hosted a blood drive with Vitalant, formerly United Blood Services, on Oct. 2 at First Lutheran Church which helped collect a total of 26 units of blood for patients in need.

A total of 27 individuals volunteered to donate blood and 23 individuals were able to donate. Three donors also came forward to donate Power Red Cells (2RBC), which entails the collection of two units of red blood cells while returning platelets, plasma and a saline solution back to the donor. One donor volunteered for the first time.

Vitalant expressed their gratitude to Kristi Swenson, who coordinated the drive, New Rockford Lions Club which sponsored the blood drive, and First Lutheran Church for providing the space.

Vitalant strives to keep a five-day supply of every blood type on the shelf at all times to be able to meet the needs of patients across the region. Donations from O-negative donors, the universal blood type, are especially important this time of year due to increased accidents and trauma cases.

Vitalant is the only blood provider to nearly 70 hospitals across the region. The blood supply is dependent on selfless donations from volunteer donors to ensure the lifesaving needs of the region are met.

About 30 percent of Vitalant’s blood supply goes to cancer patients across the region and one in seven people entering the hospital will need blood. Those relying on blood in the region receive that life saving blood from Vitalant.

Donors can make a convenient appointment to give blood at http://www.bloodhero.com or by calling (877) 25-VITAL. With each donation, donors receive a free total cholesterol test and earn points in Vitalant’s donor rewards program.

Blood donation takes about an hour from check-in to refreshments. Donors can save about 20 minutes by completing their Health History Questionnaire the day they donate on http://www.vitalant.org