Blood Drive – Donors Needed

WHAT:           Every other month a blood drive is held at SSM Health St. Mary’s Hospital – Centralia in the Auditorium. All presenting donors will receive a free T-shirt and a five dollar meal ticket redeemable at the Pleasant Avenue Café located at St. Mary’s Hospital.     

WHEN:           Monday, January 15, 2018 beginning at 11 am and ending at 5 pm  

                        Registration is not necessary but appreciated; register by calling 618.436.6450 or online at www.bloodcenterimpact.org  

WHERE:         SSM Health St. Mary’s Hospital

                        400 North Pleasant Avenue

                        Centralia, IL 62801

                        Auditorium

WHY:              Medical facilities are in constant need of blood and blood products.  Donations save lives.  Blood donation is a safe, simple procedure that takes about 45 minutes to one hour.  Donation by the numbers:

• • • 1 pint (a typical donation) can save 3 lives
    • 1 in 4 people will require a blood transfusion in their lives
    • 38,000 + blood donations are needed every day in the US  
    • 4.5 million + require a blood transfusion
    • Starting at age 17 and stopping at age 79, one person could donate 46.5 gallons of blood if s/he donated every two months
    • 10-12 pints of blood is in the typical adult
    • Every 2 seconds someone in the US needs blood
    • Type 0 negative can be transfused to all blood types
    • 38% of the US population can donate blood but ….

less than 10% actually donate

• • • Blood cannot be manufactured, it can only come from donors

WHO:              Potential donors must be in good health, weigh at least 110 pounds and be at least 17 years old. Whole blood can be donated every 56 days or 8 weeks since the last donation.  For more detailed information on donor eligibility, visit http://www.bloodcenter.org/donate-blood/donating-blood/donor-eligibility.aspx