Blood Donors Needed to be Everyday Heroes in Mena on April 7

March 27, 2015 – Arkansas Blood Institute (ABI) urges all healthy adults to donate blood at the Tuesday, blood drive at Mena Regional Health System. Each donor at April 7th’s blood drive, from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., will receive a ‘HERO” T-shirt.

“Blood donors are typically very humble about their good deeds,” said John Armitage M.D., CEO and president of Arkansas Blood Institute. “But to the grateful patients who get a second chance at life thanks to life-saving blood treatments, donors are nothing short of heroes.”

One in every seven people entering a hospital will need blood.  However, of those eligible to donate blood in the U.S., only about ten percent actually do. Giving blood takes about an hour, and each donation can save as many as three different lives. Donations can be made every 56 days.

Although all blood types are needed, those with negative type blood are especially urged to donate. Only 18 percent of the population has negative blood types.  Yet, patients with negative blood types can only receive blood from those 18 percent who have negative types.

Donors can opt to forgo the T-shirts, and instead, support Global Blood Fund (GBF).  ABI will contribute on behalf of these donors to GBF to provide supplies and technology to struggling blood centers. In the countries they serve, lives are lost daily due to an inadequate blood supply.

Anyone 16 and older* can typically donate.  Appointments to donate can be made at arkbi.org or by calling Greg at 479-652-2362.

* 16 year olds must weigh at least 125 and provide signed parental permission; 17 year olds must weigh at least 125 pounds; 18+ year olds must weigh at least 110 pounds

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Jeri Pearson

Jeri is the News Director for Pulse Multi-Media and Editor of The Polk County Pulse. She has 10 years of experience in community focused journalism and has won multiple press association awards.

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