Most of you know that I am a hospital blood banker at one of the hospitals that received injured patients from the bridge collapse yesterday evening. CNN, FOX and of course all of our local television networks are covering what now has changed from a rescue operation to a recovery effort. If you've seen any of the coverage and are wishing there was something, anything you could do, please consider donating blood. There is an immediate need for blood, especially type O, to get these victims through this crisis. Many will need ongoing transfusions of blood and blood products throughout their recoveries. Blood supplies need to be replenished. Blood for the Twin Cities area is collected, tested and then sent to area hospitals by two organizations, the American Red Cross and Memorial Blood Centers. The number for the Memorial Blood Center is in the photo above and Red Cross donation sites are listed below. For those of you not living in Minnesota, please consider donating anyway. One unit of blood can help or save several lives.
Please keep these victims, their families and the rescue workers in your thoughts and prayers.
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To donate blood, call the Red Cross at 1-800-GIVE-LIFE or Memorial Blood Centers at 1-888-GIVE-BLD or visit Red Cross.Red Cross Donation Sites:
St. Paul Area Blood Donation Center176 South Robert StreetSt. Paul, MN 55107
North Suburban Blood Donation CenterNorthwest Youth & Family Services 3490 Lexington Ave. N.Shoreview, MN 55126
Chippewa Valley Blood Donation Center3485 E. Hamilton AveEau Claire, WI 54701
Minneapolis Area Blood Donation Center1201 W. River Pkwy.Minneapolis, MN 55454
Bloomington Area Blood Donation Center505 W. 98th Street, Suite 403Minneapolis, MN 55420
St. Cloud Area Blood Donation Center1301 West St. Germaine StreetSaint Cloud, MN 56301
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I've added two links with additional information about donating blood.
The American Red Cross has this page of FAQ about blood donation.
The Blood Centers of the Pacific has an informative site listing 56 facts about blood and blood donation. Please take a look.
11 comments:
That's really excellent advice. Often we do feel helpless in the face of this kind of monstrous accident, so it's good to know that there is a way to contribute and help. Thank you.
I'm O+, but I don't know if I'll be able to make it to a donation center in the next few days. This is a good reminder that I need to start donating regularly; there are local blood drives every so often.
Robin Andrea- The helpless feelings can be overwhelming and donating blood is such a concrete way to help.
Deb- Even of you can't donate right away, the blood supplies will have to be replenished on an on-going basis. Summer is a time of shortage even without this crisis.
Lynne- just checked Memorial Blood Center's drive schedule, and there are drives in Hinckley and Sandstone at the end of the month. I put it on my calendar!
Deb- Good for you!! You took ACTION!!
Oh Lynne, I'm so frustrated....I'm on donation quarantine because of a TRALI event that occurred in March. My unit was one of 24 given to a patient who had a reaction and until the testing has been completed at Mayo and Memorial Blood Center, I can't donate a drop!
I want to donate, but I'm just getting over the flu so it will have to wait a few days, but as soon as I can I'll donate blood and platelets again. I'm thinking of you all.
Hugs,
Laurie
I donate regularly, but I'm currently on deferral because of that trip to Africa last December.
I have given regularly for 25 years and am on the National Marrow Donor list as well. It's a small thing that makes a huge difference in many lives.
Yes, yes, Lynne. This is such an important life-giving gift.
Those scenes of the bridge - the crumpled vehicles - the fact of it being a familiar part of your life - this has to be doubly traumatic. I know it's hugely unsettling for us who are far removed.
Great message, Lynne! It might make your heart warm to know that the Red Cross is scheduled to arrive on campus next week when the students return. They usually visit only in the spring but this year we get an extra visit!
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