Northwestern High School’s Blood Drive Brings in 27 Volunteers
MELLETTE, SD – Northwestern High School hosted a blood drive with Vitalant, formerly United Blood Services, on March 31 which helped collect a total of 17 units of blood products for patients in need.
A total of 27 individuals volunteered to donate blood and 18 individuals were able to donate at the Vitalant blood drive on March 28. There were three people who volunteered for the first time.
Vitalant expressed their gratitude to Mrs. Anne Frericks, who coordinated the drive, and the FBLA which sponsored the blood drive.
Vitalant strives to keep a 5-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 lifesaving blood from Vitalant.
Donors can make a convenient appointment to give blood at 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. The next blood drive at this location is planned to be held on: Monday, November 23, 2020
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 www.vitalant.org
