Volunteer at blood drives
(Mirror Daily, United States) Now that the summer is drawing to its end, hospitals prepare for a new session of blood drives. The summer is always the worst season from this point of view, because blood donors are away, spending their holiday, while hospitals use up their blood supplies.
September can be considered the month for blood drives. The American Red Cross has already planned two such events in East Central Indiana because of the National Preparedness Month in September.
According to The Star Press, the schedule for blood drives in September is the following:
“ 3:30-7:30 p.m. Sept. 1., YMCA Northwest, 3500 N. Chadam Lane, Muncie.
Noon-4 p.m. Sept. 2, Church of the Nazarene of Hartford City, 1402 W. Water St., Hartford City.
11 a.m.-4 p.m. Sept. 22, Pruis Hall, McKinley Avenue, Ball State University, Muncie.”
The American Red Cross also made a partnership with Sport Clips Haircuts in order to offer blood donors a gift. All those who sign up to donate blood between September 1 and September 30 will receive a coupon which will allow them to get a free haircut at Sport Clips Haircuts. The coupon will by available for two months, until November.
Amanda Palm declared on behalf of Sport Clips Haircuts:
“The need for blood touches so many lives – not just those who need blood, but their family members and loved ones too.”
Another gift that blood donors can receive is a branded duffel bag. The American Red Cross is trying to find ways of attracting as many volunteers as possible because hospitals need to refresh their blood supplies in order to treat, cure and save patients.
Officials remind people that all types of blood are needed. Nevertheless, there also some requirements that blood donors have to meet before coming at blood drives: they must be more than 16 years old, weigh 110 pounds and have a good health status. Also, there must have past at least 56 days since their last donation, because blood cells in their organism need to recover.
Blood donors should also remember to bring identification documents, such as their blood donor card. Officials also ask people to register before going to blood drives, as well as to fill in a form which is available online. This is a good method which assures them there will be no waiting in line.
Image courtesy of: Flickr