CentraCare Health is helping to make sure there is a big enough blood supply to meet demand.

 

Monday, CentraCare volunteers and members of the American Red Cross held a blood drive at CentraCare Monticello.

 

“Our role here is to host a site for them to do the blood collection and to staff the volunteers,” said CentraCare volunteer coordinator Charlotte Merchlewicz.

 

CentraCare is the host a few times a year. There was also a blood drive event July 3, where they collected 20 pints, another last December (34 pints) and last September (30 pints).

 

Sue Thesenga, external communications manager, Biomedical Field Marketing and Communications for the American Red Cross, says Monday’s event in Monticello was just one of many in the region, which covers Minnesota, parts of western Wisconsin and eastern South Dakota.

 

“We do 25 to 30 a day across the state,” she says. “We need to collect about 1,000 units (pints) a day to meet patient demand.”

 

Blood has a shelf life of 42 days, so whether or not there is a specific emergency, the supply always needs to be replenished. And it also takes three days for donated blood to be tested, processed and transported to hospitals that need it. 

 

At every blood drive event, potential donors are screened to make sure they are eligible to give blood.  Donors give a brief medical history and get their hemoglobin checked as well as blood pressure.

 

“In most states, including Minnesota, donors have to be 16 years of age or need parental consent,” says Thesenga. “They have to be at least 100 pounds and be in good health. There is no upper age limit.”

 

Thesenga says although there are a lot of events like hurricanes and earthquakes in the news, it doesn’t change the need for a constant blood supply.

 

“It’s not necessarily that we need more bood right now but the need is constant,” she says. “The natural disasters we’ve seen is a good reminder of that. We need to make sure we always have a stable supply on hand.”

 

Of all the blood types, O-Negative is the most desirable, says Thesenga. Known as the “universal type, O-Negative is compatible with anyone’s blood.

 

“It can be transfused to any patient. That’s very important in emergency situations where the doctor doesn’t have time to type a blood,” she says. “But only seven percent of the population is O-Negative.”

 

People can donate blood every 56 days, which means about six times a year. Most donors give blood an average of twice a year.

 

“But only about 10% of eligible people donate blood,” says Thesenga. “So we’re always encouraging people to be repeat donors and others to start donating blood.”

 

Other upcoming area blood drives include Monticello Community Center, 505 Walnut Street, Oct. 7, 1 p.m. - 7 p.m.; United Methodist Church, 1304 Main Street in Elk River, Oct. 6, 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.;   Lord of Glory Lutheran Church, 15550 190th Ave NW, Elk River, Oct. 10, 2 p.m. - 7 p.m.; First National Financial, 812 Main St. Elk River, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.; Keller Williams Realty Integrity Northwest, 16201 90th Street NE, Suite 100, Otsego, Oct. 20, 9:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.; Cub Foods, 1008 Hwy. 55, Buffalo, Oct. 7, 8 a.m. - 1 p.m. 

 

Anyone can make an appointment to give blood by downloading the free Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting redcrossblood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767). 

 

To help reduce wait times, donors are encouraged to make appointments and complete the RapidPass online health history questionnaire at redcrossblood.org/RapidPass.