Blood donors urged to give generously during holiday season
With the holidays approaching, nonprofit blood-services provider Vitalant is urging all Concho Valley residents who enjoy good health to give thanks by donating blood.
According to Linda Grace with Vitalant’s San Angelo office, fewer people donate during the Thanksgiving-to-New Year weeks than any other time of year, but every two seconds, someone in the United States needs blood. And in fact, it may require many donors to help just one patient.
Blood donors of all blood types, especially Type O and platelet donors are critically needed.
Type O is the most in-demand blood type and Type O-Negative is what physicians often reach for in emergencies, because it can be transfused when there is no time to determine a patient’s blood type.
Platelets, which are critical to halt bleeding, have a short shelf life, and must be used within a week of collection.
“Our center, located at 2020 W. Beauregard Ave. in San Angelo, provides a convenient place for donors to help those patients who will be in dire need during the upcoming holiday season,” Grace said. “Vitalant is the blood services provider for San Angelo, and the service area includes 16 surrounding counties.”
There are several upcoming opportunities to give blood, and donors are encouraged to schedule an appointment.
San Angelo area blood drives:
Howard College, 3501 N. US Highway 67, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 1.
Shannon South, 3501 Knickerbocker Road, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Wednesday, Nov. 9 and Thursday, Nov. 10.
Coldwell Banker Legacy Realtors, 3017 Knickerbocker Road, 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Tuesday Nov. 15.
Angelo State University / Tri Beta, University Center, 1820 Rosemont Dr., 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 30 and Wednesday, Dec. 1.
Donors will receive an Amazon.com gift card redeemable by email as a small token of thanks.
Learn more at vitalant.org/ThanksgivingGift.
To check eligibility and make an appointment visit vitalant.org, download and use the Vitalant app, or call 877-25-VITAL (877-258-4825).
As a special thank you, when donors use the Vitalant app to make and keep a donation appointment during the month of November, they automatically will be entered to win one of five $500 prepaid gift cards.
Vitalant is a network of about 120 donation centers across the U.S. and host approximately 60,000 blood drives annually. Vitalant provides blood and special services to patients in about 900 hospitals across the U.S. – millions of people depend on blood donations from our generous volunteer donors.
This article originally appeared on San Angelo Standard-Times: Blood donors urged to give generously during holiday season
