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Massena Memorial Hospital planning blood drive Dec. 29

Posted 12/25/10

MASSENA -- Massena Memorial Hospital has a blood drive set for 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 29 in the Community Education Room, on the lower level of the hospital. Refreshments will be …

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Massena Memorial Hospital planning blood drive Dec. 29

Posted

MASSENA -- Massena Memorial Hospital has a blood drive set for 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 29 in the Community Education Room, on the lower level of the hospital. Refreshments will be available.

MMH Laboratory Director Kevin Ward reminds potential donors that one donation could provide several lifesaving such as packed red cells, fresh frozen plasma, and platelets.

“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 said.

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

You are eligible to donate blood if you are at least 17 years of age, weigh at least 110 pounds, are good health and feeling well the day of the donation, and you must not have had a tattoo or body piercing within the last year.

For more information, call MMH at 769-4305.

Facts about Blood Donation:

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