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Massena Memorial Hospital hosting blood drive to save lives in North Country

Posted 3/4/18

MASSENA -- It might be cold outside, but with just a few minutes of your time you can show people the amazing warmth and compassion of North Country residents by donating the body’s most precious …

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Massena Memorial Hospital hosting blood drive to save lives in North Country

Posted

MASSENA -- It might be cold outside, but with just a few minutes of your time you can show people the amazing warmth and compassion of North Country residents by donating the body’s most precious resource – blood.

Most people requiring blood transfusions use at least three units of blood. Giving a few minutes of your time to roll up your sleeves to give the life-saving gift of donating blood can save up four other people. Massena Memorial Hospital encourages people to come out and donate blood from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 7 in the Community Education Room. Refreshments will be provided.

MMH and Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital partnered together to conduct the blood drives to ensure blood donated in our community, stays in this region to be given to a patient in the North Country.

“We encourage any community member who has thought to donate, but not done so, to come to their community hospital and donate blood,” said Tina Corcoran, Senior Director Public Relations/Planning. “We would love to see 100 community members donate at the Blood Drive this Wednesday. Each blood drive we average 55 donors, I would like to see us reach 75 donors.”

The Administrative Laboratory Director, Tina Hatch explained one donation could provide several products for potential lifesaving measures to include pack red cells, fresh frozen plasma, and individual platelets. To donate blood it only takes about 30 minutes with registration and the donation.

“On average, when a patient needs a blood transfusion, they will receive two to three units,” said Hatch. “We have partnered with CVPH, because the blood donated here at MMH, stays in the North Country. It is very safe and a piece of mind.”

Interested to know if you are eligible to donate blood? Here are a few guidelines:

• You must be at least 17 years of age.

• You must weigh at least 110 pounds.

• You must be in good health and feeling well the day of the donation.

• You must not have had a tattoo or body piercing within the last year.

Blood and blood products processed by the North Country Regional Blood Center meet or exceed all national standards for safety and quality. The pre-screening questions and standards that donors must adhere to, the policies and protocols used in collecting the donations, and the testing and processing carried out prior to making the blood available are the same as adhered to by the American Red Cross and other accredited programs.

Everyone is welcome...the blood that people donate here stays within the North Country! Refreshments will be available. Join the team of givers and help your community! For more information, please call the Massena Memorial Hospital Public Relations Office at 315-769-4305.

Facts about Blood Donation

• An estimated 60% of New Yorkers are eligible to donate blood, but only 4% actually donate annually.

• You can donate whole blood every eight weeks.

• There are four main blood types: A, B, AB and O. AB is the universal recipient; O Negative is the universal donor.

• Platelets from your blood support blood clotting and give those with leukemia and other illnesses a chance to live.

• If all blood donors gave just two to four times a year, it would significantly help prevent blood shortages.

• A single pint of blood could save up to four lives.

• Every time you give blood you are giving someone life: a child, mother, father, brother, sister, grandparents or even a friend. Life, what a gift!

• You cannot contract HIV/AIDS or any other infectious disease by donating blood.