Murray County Central High School and Murray County Medical Center will host community blood drives on Tuesday, October 7th. Murray County High School will host a blood drive from 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Murray County Medical Center will host the blood drive from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., with donor registration inside the hospital lobby. Donors can schedule a donations time by logging onto cbblifeblood. org, selecting “Donate Blood” and “Blood Drive Calendar,” then selecting October 7. Donors can also call Community Blood Bank at 605-331-3222. All those who donate blood will receive a $20 Subway gift card as a thank you gift.
“Every donor represents hope for patients who are depending on the generosity of strangers,” said Ken Versteeeg, Executive Director, Community Blood Bank. “That initial decision to roll up your sleeve and give blood can literally mean the difference between life and death for someone in our community.
A single blood donation will save up to 3 lives and provide hope to a loved one, a friend, or maybe even yourself. The act of donating only takes 30 minutes but the gift could last a life-time.”
A single blood donation can be separated into multiple components – red blood cells, plasma, and platelets – allowing one donor to potentially help save up to three different patients. For first-time donors, this means their decision to give blood for the first time creates a ripple effect of healing that extends far beyond what they might imagine. First-time blood donors often become regular, lifelong donors, creating a sustained impact on community health. Many people who have never donated blood before are surprised to learn they are eligible and that the process is quick, safe, and relatively painless.
“We see patients every day who owe their lives to blood donors, including many first-time donors who made that crucial decision to help,” explained Mr. Versteeg. “Cancer patients, accident victims, surgical patients, and those with blood disorders all depend on the kindness of donors who choose to give.”
People interested in donating blood must be generally healthy, at least 16 years old (with parental consent), weight at least 110 pounds. Please bring a photo ID with you to your donation. Walk-ins are welcome, though appointments are encouraged to reduce wait times. For more information about the blood drive, eligibility requirements, or to schedule an appointment, log onto cbblifeblood. org. Community Blood Bank is the sole blood provider to Murray County Medical Center and 42 other local hospitals.
