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Friday, 09 January 2009 |
It might look like a winter wonderland at times, but the winter weather is no wonderland for hospital patients who depend on blood to keep them healthy and alive. Poteau residents are gearing up for a community blood drive to help prevent possible blood shortages this month. "In areas with harsh winter weather, cold weather and storms often keep people from donating blood,” says Jeremiah Mitchell of United Blood Services. “With fewer people donating blood, some parts of the country run the risk of having critical blood shortages,” Mitchell says.
To make sure there’s a dependable blood supply locally, United Blood Services has scheduled a community blood drive from 11:45 a.m. to 4:15 p.m., today, at KI BOIS Community Action office located behind the Best Western, in Poteau.
“For those who are out and about town and the winter weather hasn’t dampened their routine, we invite them to stop by the blood drive and donate blood ” Mitchell says.
United Blood Services provides a free cholesterol screening with each donation. Volunteer blood donors must be at least 16 years old, weigh at least 110 pounds and be in good health.
Additional height/weight requirements apply to donors 22 and younger, and donors who are 16 must have signed permission from a parent or guardian. To make an appointment log on to www.UnitedBloodServices.org or call Jesse Tucker at 918-647-3267. Echoing United Blood Services’ new outreach campaign, Mitchell urged, “Find the hero in you. Donate blood three times in 2009.” |
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Last Updated ( Monday, 12 January 2009 )
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