Local residents are invited to "Beef Up the Blood Supply" in
November by giving blood.
The Humboldt Hospital Auxiliary along with United Blood Services in Reno
will host its annual Community Blood Drive on Tuesday and Wednesday, November
12-13, at the West Hall of the Winnemucca Convention Center.
All donors will be treated to the usual juice and cookies as well as complimentary
hamburger sliders, courtesy of the Humboldt County Cattlewomen's Association.
According to Auxiliary blood drive chairman Maggie Williams, the Auxiliary
and the Cattlewomen teamed up, not only to give local residents a delicious
incentive to give blood, but also because beef is so iron rich, providing
donors exactly what they need to help build up their own blood supply.
"We're really excited to have the Cattlewomen work with us,"
said Williams. "We hope people will help support this drive as we
move into the holiday season and our blood needs increase."
The Auxiliary, one of Humboldt County's longest standing and most respected
volunteer organizations, hosts three blood drives each year. In addition
to this month's event, drives will take place next March and July.
According to Williams, the blood donated locally will be used to meet the
needs of patients throughout northern Nevada and the eastern Sierras.
Each blood donation can help several patients, said Williams.
United Blood Services representative Jan McKee said that every unit of
donated blood is sent to the United Blood Services laboratory for testing
and processing. Laboratory technicians separate the whole blood into components
to meet patients' specific needs.
McKee said while individual components are transfused for specific medical
needs, a patient with a serious injury may require several different components.
The Community Blood Drive will take place from noon to 6:30 p.m. Tuesday,
November 12, and from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday, November 13. Donors
must be 17 years of age or older, must weigh at least 110 pounds and must
be in reasonably good health.
Those who have visited a dentist in the past 24 hours or who have taken
antibiotics up to three days prior may not donate. A history of cancer
in the last year or tattoos or body piercings in the last 12 months may
defer a donor for a year.
Donors should eat a low-fat meal prior to giving blood and bring personal
identification: a driver's license, a blood donor card or a Social
Security card. The virtually painless process takes less than an hour.
Community residents who wish to donate blood may call Maggie Williams at
(775) 304-4804 or (775) 623-6709 to schedule an appointment or for more
information.