Blood drives to be held July 7 and 8

 

WARREN - The American Red Cross is holding community blood drives in Warren and Ware on July 7 and 8 and donors are needed.

All blood donors at each of those drives will receive a free t-shirt, plus a voucher for a free carton of Friendly’s Ice Cream.

The drive will be held Wednesday, July 7 at the Ware Senior Center (1 Robbins Road) between 1 - 6 p.m., and Thursday, July 8 at the West Warren Senior Center (2252 Main St.) between 2 - 7 p.m.

All presenting blood donors throughout the summer can also register to win Red Sox tickets.

In addition to a pair of tickets to a game at Fenway Park, the blood donor of the game receives a commemorative souvenir plus an on-field recognition. The real winners, however, are the patients who are relying on the generosity of volunteer blood donors.
To ensure the quickest possible process at any Red Cross Blood Drive, call 800-RED CROSS  (800) 733-2767 or visit RedCrossBlood.org to schedule an appointment to donate blood. Walk-In donors are always welcome, however, appointments are preferred.

Blood donors must be at least 17 years of age (16 with parental permission) and be in general good health.
“You may safely donate blood every 56 days, and many donors do it every other month,” says Adam Edelstein, blood donor recruiter for the American Red Cross. “We hold blood drives the first Wednesday of every month at the Ware Senior Center, but the turnout has decreased significantly over the past year. The summer months are the toughest for blood collection and we hope that people will plan to donate in either Ware or Warren to make sure blood is readily available for hospital patients in need.”
Each pint of blood collected can save the lives of up to three hospital patients, as it is separated into red cells, platelets and plasma. “There is no substitute for human blood. Life saving blood is only available to hospital patients when donated by volunteer community members like you,” adds Edelstein.
About 20 percent of the blood collected by the American Red Cross in Massachusetts comes from high school and college blood drives. Another 20 percent comes from business and company blood drives. With schools out for the summer and many people away on vacation, the summer months are the toughest for blood collection.
The entire process takes about one hour- registration, health history, donation time, followed by time at the canteen.