The annual Merrill MASH Blood Drive is going on today until 5 p.m. at the National Guard Armory, 106 N. Memorial Drive.
The goal for the day is to collect 225 units of blood. As of this morning, 200 donors had scheduled appointments. Anyone interested in donating may register on site today to give blood and help the Community Blood Center reach its goal.
A national blood shortage has found its way to Northeast Wisconsin, said Tyler Sjostrom of The Community Blood Center. Since the beginning of July, The Community Blood Center has seen its inventory drop by nearly 50%.
Blood donations typically drop in the summer, Sjostrom added.
“Maintaining a healthy blood supply during the summer months is challenging for three reasons: people are busier with summer vacations and fuller schedules, colleges and high schools (which represent about 500 donations per month) are not in session, and there is an uptick in traumatic injuries due to an increase in recreational activities,” he said. “The way that July 4th fell this year – in the middle of the week – only added to the challenge.”
These factors have made for an unprecedented shortage this year, and is part of the reason that CBC holds themed community blood drives and offers summer promotions as well.
“To help account for fewer donors in the summer, we come to you!” Sjostrom said. “We have drives all summer throughout Northeast Wisconsin and the Northwoods, and have donor centers in Appleton, Oshkosh, Little Chute and Woodruff.”
There are numerous reasons that a person might need a blood transfusion, from cancer treatments to cardiovascular surgeries to the treatment of traumatic injuries. Each year, 15 million pints of blood are transfused in the United States, and every two seconds, someone needs blood. In each case, that blood was donated by a volunteer blood donor.
While all blood types are valuable, O- is particularly sought after, as it is the “universal donor” and can be received by individuals with all blood types.
“When we say ‘Donate Today, You’ll Save Lives Tomorrow,’ these aren’t empty words,” Sjostrom said. “They’re the absolute truth.”
Blood donated locally to the Community Blood Center is processed locally and used locally.
“Since 1955, The Community Blood Center has served patients and hospitals in Northeast Wisconsin,” Sjostrom said. “Today, we’ve branched into the Wisconsin Northwoods and Upper Peninsula of Michigan, and our first priority is getting the patients in our partner hospitals the blood that they need.
“Because platelets, red blood cells and plasma are processed at our on-site, state-of-the-art laboratory, we’re able to ensure that blood will be available when an urgent need arises.
“It’s been more than three decades since a scheduled procedure was delayed at one of our partner hospitals due to a lack of blood,” he added. “Our mission is to ‘Connect Lives, Share Life,’ and we take this responsibility seriously.”
Donating blood is quick, easy and safe, Sjostrom said.
“In most cases, the donation process takes about an hour,” he explained. “Many of our donors are able to fit in a donation over their lunch hour. The process is very simple. After a person has registered to donate, they fill out a health history and brief questionnaire, our staff performs a quick health screen to ensure that they’re fit to donate, and the donation itself only takes a few minutes. Our staff is well-trained and personable, and they act as guides through the donation process.
“It takes only a small part of a person’s day, but the impact it has on the person needing blood is enormous,” he added. “We don’t think twice to help a neighbor with their groceries or to lend a hand when someone needs it. As Wisconsinites, we help each other; it’s just what we do. A blood donation isn’t any different, and a single donation has the potential to provide up to three area patients with positive outcomes.”
Each year, The Community Blood Center (CBC) holds four specially themed blood drives – Appleton, Waupaca, Rhinelander (Hodag) and Merrill – which take on the look and feel of a mobile army hospital, much like the famous TV show MASH.
CBC partners with veterans’ organizations for planning and set-up, and donations are made to these organizations on behalf of the blood donors. For this year’s Merrill MASH Blood Drive, CBC is partnering with VFW Post 2687 of Tomahawk, Post 10203 of Hamburg, and Post 1638 of Merrill.
Though appointments are preferred, walk-ins are welcome also.
All presenting donors are eligible to be entered to win one of two vacation prize package, which includes: $600 Marriott.com gift card, $200 Kwik Trip gift card and $200 Restaurants.com gift card.
A monetary donation will be made to the Never Forgotten Honor Flight for each blood donation received.