Blood Donor Day set for April 4 in Waukon

The next LifeServe Blood Center blood drive will be held Monday, April 4 from 12-5 p.m. at the First Baptist Church in south Waukon.  The LifeServe Blood Center supplies Veterans Memorial Hospital with its blood and blood products.

Here are some interesting blood facts from the Blood Center of Iowa:

• If a person lives to the age of 72, there is a 90% chance they will have a need for blood or blood products at some point in their life.
• It takes several units of blood to help a single patient, including the following:
- Premature Infants: 1-4 Red Cell Donations
- Cancer Patients: 3-10 Red Cell Donations, 5-15 Platelet Donations
- Trauma Patients: 5-100 Red Cell Donations
- Cardiovascular Surgeries: 3-8 Red Cell Donations, 1-10 Platelet Donations
- Organ/Marrow Transplants: 10-30 Red Cell Donations, 5-100 Platelet Donations
- Burned: 10-20 Platelet Donations
• 1 out of 7 people entering the hospital need blood
• 14 tests are performed on each unit of blood donated
• Only 38% of the U.S. population is eligible to donate blood, but less than 10% do annually.
• One pt. of blood can save up to three lives
• Someone needs blood every two seconds.

Regular blood donors may donate blood as often as every 56 days.  First-time donors will find that donating blood is a safe and easy way to save lives and make a difference in the community. One single blood donation can save the lives of up to three sick or injured hospital patients.

The donation process is simple:
1. Eat a healthy meal and drink plenty of fluids at least four hours prior to donating.
2. Bring proper identification, such as a donor card or a driver’s license.
3. Complete a health history questionnaire and screening interview.
4. Receive a brief health check by trained staff. This includes a check of blood pressure, pulse, temperature and blood iron levels.
5. Sit back while a unit of blood, approximately one pint, is collected. This process takes around 10 minutes.
6. Enjoy refreshments while relaxing for 10-15 minutes before leaving the facility.

Blood drives are held monthly in Waukon. The blood that is collected is tested carefully. In fact, all blood that is collected by any blood collection center is all tested the same, according to the federal regulations.

To help maintain Iowa’s blood supply, donate at the Waukon Community Blood Drive, Monday, April 4 at the First Baptist Church in south Waukon. Appointments are required. To schedule an appointment, call the LifeServe Blood Center at 800-287-4903.