Community center to host Mangum, OK blood drive
Mark your calendars folks! If you live in Mangum, OK or Greer County, your chance to donate blood is coming up. About 36,000 units of blood are needed each day (that's one person every two seconds!), so the need for blood donors is paramount.
An estimated 38 percent of the United States population is eligible to give blood at a certain point in time, but only about 10 percent do. This is your chance to make a difference!
Why donate blood?
Blood donations are needed badly in the United States not just because of the fact above, but for several other reasons:
Red blood cells can only be stored for 42 days
Platelets can only be stored for 5 days
Plasma can only be stored for one year
This means that a constant supply of new donor blood is needed! The most requested blood type by hospitals is Type O, and Type AB is usually in short supply as only 3 percent of the population has it. Types O negative and AB are especially useful because they can be transferred to people of other blood types!
What is needed to give blood?
All you need to do is show up! Before the medical donation process (which only takes about 10-12 minutes), you'll be asked to do a few things which include register, complete a medical history, and complete a mini-physical. Refreshments are served after.
The mini-physical involves taking your temperature, blood pressure, pulse and hemoglobin to make sure that it is safe for you to donate.
Who does donated blood go to?
Many people need blood transfusions each day. A few of the types of people that require transfusions are:
Car accident victims - A single car accident victim can require up to 100 pints of blood.
Cancer patients - It was estimated that in 2017 alone, 1.69 million people would be diagnosed with cancer. During chemotherapy, patients may require transfusions as often as every day.
Sick cell anemia patients - About 90,000 to 100,000 people in the United States have sickle cell anemia, and 1,000 babies each year are born with the condition. These people often require transfusions throughout their lives.
Where can I donate blood?
If you live in Mangum, OK or the surrounding area, you here are the details on your chance to be a blood donor:
When: March 9th, 2pm - 6pm
Where: Mangum Community Center (213 N. Oklahoma St. in Mangum, OK)
Contact: For appointments, call Elise Alduino at 580-782-3353, ext. 232
Sunshine Home Care provides home health in Mangum, OK and most of Western Oklahoma. For more information on our agency, visit here or contact us today.
Source: American Red Cross
