New blood donors are being sought for the April 22 blood drive at Ministry Good Samaritan Health Center in Merrill. This weekly blood drive runs from Noon to 6:30 p.m. every Monday at the Menard Center, located behind the hospital on the Ministry Good Samaritan Health Center campus at 601 S. Center Ave. in Merrill.
Jan Hadsell, Blood Donor Recruiter with the Community Blood Center, says that they are grateful to everyone who currently donates blood, but that they are also seeking new blood donors to give blood at this weekly blood drive.
“Only 37% of Americans can give blood, and less than 10% of people actually do so. Our community blood supply relies on this small group of generous people, but as some of these people become ineligible to donate or move away, we need new blood donors to step up and take their place,” said Hadsell.
Since 1985, donors with the Community Blood Center have supplied all of the blood transfused to patients at Ministry Good Samaritan Health Center. Hadsell says that in 2012, Merrill residents made over 2,100 donations of whole blood and 150 donations of platelets. Platelets are a golden-colored blood component often transfused to cancer patients.
Hadsell says that new blood donors should bring their donor ID to the blood drive, wear a short-sleeved shirt, eat a regular meal and drink plenty of fluids prior to donating. Blood donors must be at least 17 years old (16 with parental permission), weigh at least 110 pounds, and be in general good health.
Advance donation appointments are highly recommended for the weekly blood drives at the hospital, and may be made by calling the Community Blood Center at (800)280-4102 or visiting www.save3lives.org.