Redfield’s Blood Drive Brings in 61 Volunteers

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Redfield’s Blood Drive Brings in 61 Volunteers
REDFIELD, SD – Our Savior’s Lutheran Church hosted a blood drive with Vitalant, formerly United Blood Services, on November 26 which helped collect a total of 68 units of blood for patients in need.
A total of 61 individuals volunteered to donate blood and 56 individuals were able to donate at the Vitalant blood drive on November 26. A total of 12 donors also came forward to donate Power Red Cells (2RBC) which collects two units of red blood cells while returning platelets, plasma and a saline solution back to the donor.

Vitalant expressed their gratitude to Dawn Oakley, who coordinated the drive, and Our Savior’s Lutheran Church which sponsored the blood drive, as well as others who assisted the day of the drive: Julie Becker, Berniece Rohrbach, Marlene Brugger, Peggy Miller, Kortney Schmitz, and Our Savior’s Lutheran Church Ladies Groups.
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.
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.vitalant.org 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 www.vitalant.org