MASSENA – Give the gift of life at the Massena Memorial Hospital Blood Drive on Wednesday, Sept. 8, in the Community Education Room, Lower Level of the hospital, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Refreshments will be available.

“We encourage any community member who has thought to donate, but not done so, to come to their community hospital and donate blood,” said Kevin Ward, MMH Laboratory Director. “We would love to see 100 members of the community come to the Blood Drive this Wednesday.”

Ward explained one donation could provide several products for potential lifesaving measures to include packed red cells, fresh frozen plasma, and individual platelets.

To donate blood it only takes about 30 minutes with registration and the donation. “Last year at MMH we used nearly 800 units of blood for 309 patients.

On average, when a patient needs a blood transfusion, they will receive two to three units,” Ward added. “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.”

Massena Memorial Hospital and Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital have joined forces to ensure the blood donated in our community, stays, and is given to a patient within the North Country.

Am I eligible to donate blood? Here are some on the 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.

• You can rest assured that the 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.

For more information, call the Massena Memorial Hospital Public Relations Office at 769-4305 or 769-4262.

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.

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