Students urged to donate blood

The Red Cross Blood Drive in Minneota is only a few days away and appointments to this point are less than anticipated. Especially among the younger generation.
The blood drive is scheduled for 1-7 p.m. on June 24 at the American Legion.
Of those that have signed up to this point, only one is a student in college and there have been no high school students signed up.
Because of the coronavirus pandemic, those wishing to donate are required to make an appointment.
Donors are needed to make and keep scheduled appointments to help meet the current need. Those donating from June 1-30 receive a $5 amazon.com gift card.
To make an appointment, use the Red Cross Donor App, visit RedCrossBlood.org, call 1-800-733-2767, or enable the Blood Donor Skill on any Alexa Echo device.
“We have only 17 people signed up so far,” said Barb Okrina, the local blood drive coordinator. “We would really like to get some of the young people to donate blood.”
Blood donors are urgently needed to make donation appointments to prevent another shortage like the one that occurred at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in March. And there is an urgent need for blood during the coronavirus pandemic as hospitals resume non-urgent and elective procedures.
Donating blood is also as good for a donor’s health as it is for those receiving the blood. Research has discovered that donating blood can help reduce the risks of heart attacks and cancer. It has this affect by reducing iron levels which can thicken blood and contribute to cardiovascular disease.
It is estimated that one in seven people entering a hospital need blood. Of the 38 percent of Americans who are eligible to donate blood, less than 10 percent donate each year. And many of those donors are aging out of the donor pool, making it even more important for students to donate.
Currently, approximately 65 percent of blood donations are made by people over 40 years old. And, of those 65 percent, three-quarters of those are made by people over 50.
Blood services across the country have been urging young people to step up and replace those aging out.
Donating blood is much easier and less time-consuming than most people realize. And donating a unit of blood can save up to three lives.
It generally takes around 45 minutes to an hour to give blood.
The first minutes are for registering, although blood and platelet donors can save time at their next donation by using RapidPass® to complete their pre-donation reading and health history questionnaire online, on the day of their donation, before arriving at the blood drive. To get started, follow the instructions at RedCrossBlood.org/RapidPass or use the Blood Donor App.
It then takes 15 to 20 minuites to cover your health history and then have a staff member check your temperature, pulse, blood pressure and hemoglobin level.
The next step is to be situated comfortably while a unit is drawn. The actual donation takes eight to 10 minutes. After donating, there is snack and a drink available before you leave.

Blood drive safety precautions
Each Red Cross blood drive and donation center follows the highest standards of safety and infection control, and additional precautions – including temperature checks, social distancing and face coverings for donors and staff – have been implemented to ensure the health of all those in attendance.
Donors are required to wear a face covering or mask while at the drive, in alignment with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention public guidance.