Local residents are invited to “Find the Hero in You” by donating blood.
The Humboldt Hospital Auxiliary along with United Blood Services in Reno
will host its annual March Community Blood Drive from noon to 6:30 p.m.
Tuesday, March 28, and from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday, March 29, at the
West Hall of the Winnemucca Convention Center.
Donors will be entered in United Blood Services’ “March Gladness”
contest, which offers the chance to win one of several prize packages.
The Auxiliary, one of Humboldt County’s longest standing and most
respected volunteer organizations, hosts three blood drives each year.
In addition to March’s event, the organization hosted a blood drive
last November; another drive will take place in July.
According to Steve Thomas, Donor Recruitment Director for United Blood
Services, “Blood donations are essential for our community hospital
patients and other critically ill people needing a blood transfusion to
sustain life.”
United Blood Services of Reno is the sole blood products supplier to 20
hospitals in northern Nevada, including Humboldt General Hospital.
“Every day, we need approximately 120 blood donations to meet the
increasing demand for red blood cells, platelets and plasma,” said Thomas.
For those who do donate blood next week, technicians from United Blood
Services of Reno will interview donors and make the blood draws.
Potential blood donors are those 17 years and older who weigh at least
110 pounds and are 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 with them
personal identification: a driver’s license or blood donor or Social
Security card. The virtually painless process takes less than an hour.
The Humboldt Hospital Auxiliary will provide juice and cookies after donations.
For more information or to schedule an appointment, please call Maggie
Williams at (775) 304-4804 or (775) 623-6709.
Also, donors can schedule an appointment online. Visit
www.BloodHero.com and use sponsor code WINNEMUCCA.