Mayor Mark Senter will be hosting another Blood Drive on Saturday, November 21st from 8:00 am til 12:00 pm at the Plymouth Fire Department. The South Bend Medical Foundation will have their mobile Blood Drive unit parked in the parking lot on the north side of the Fire Station. You can call the Mayor’s Office at 574-936-6717 to schedule an appointment or you can visit the South Bend Medical Foundation’s website at www.givebloodnow.com and schedule an appointment. Walk-ins are also welcome.
South Bend Medical Foundation offers 3 different ways to donate blood and its components. Two of these options will be available at the Blood Drive on November 21st. The type of donation may vary based on a person’s blood type, platelet count, their last donation, the South Bend Medical Foundation inventory status or patient needs. What is most important to remember is that each and every donation, whole blood or components, are critically needed and helps save lives.
Whole Blood Donation is the most common type of blood donation. During this process approximately one pint of whole blood is donated. Each unit of whole blood is separated into 3 main parts: red blood cells, platelets and plasma. Therefore, with each whole blood donation, up to 3 lives can be saved!
Donating whole blood is safe and simple. The entire process, from registration to refreshments, takes approximately one hour. Strict procedures for every step of the process ensure the safety of the donor and of the blood supply. Whole blood donors can donate every 56 days or up to six times a year. You must wait 56 days between whole blood donations to allow plenty of time for your body to replenish red cells.
About 750 whole blood donations are needed each week in our community to maintain an adequate supply for area hospitals and doctor offices. These donations help patients heal and recover, and they save lives. Even more donations are needed during the summer months and around the holidays. During these times, the number of donations drop and the amount of blood being used increases. All blood donated at the Mayor’s Blood drive stays in our local hospitals. You are truly saving your neighbor’s life!
Whole Blood Donor Qualifications
- First time donors need a photo ID.
- Must wait 56 days between donations.
- Must be at least 17 years of age, or 16 years old with signed parental consent
- Must weigh at least 110 pounds.
- Must be symptom free for 72 hours after a cold or influenza.
- Must wait 4 weeks after getting a tattoo or body piercing by a professional entity in a regulated state.
- Area of tattoo or piercing must be fully healed.
- Must not be pregnant
Medications
Most people taking medications, even prescription medications (including treatment of diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol), are accepted as blood donors. Therefore, please do not self-defer; discuss with screener.
Temporary Deferral
1 year: Anyone who has traveled to a malarial risk area. Anyone who has received blood or plasma or has had certain major surgeries. Anyone who has had a tattoo or body piercing applied in a non-regulated establishment or state. Anyone who has had an accidental needlestick. Anyone who has had sexual contact with those in a high-risk group for AIDS. 24 Hour: Invasive dental work such as root canal, tooth extraction or oral surgery
2. Double Red Cell Donation
Some people who meet specific height and weight requirements can choose to or will be advised to make an automated red cell donation. These donors (referred to as double red cell donors) help save two patients with their single automated red cell donation because it yields enough for two patients. Twice the amount of red cells is collected by an automated technology known as apheresis collections. Double red cell donors can donate every 112 days or 3 times a year. The double red cell donation takes only 20 minutes longer than a whole blood donation, so plan on about 1 hour and 20 minutes for the entire donation process.
Double Red Cell Donor Qualifications
The qualifications for double red donors are similar to those for regular blood donations. Please click here to review the whole blood donor qualifications.
Double red cell donors must also meet the following height, weight and hematocrit requirements:
• Males: Minimum weight of 130 lbs., minimum height of 5’1″
• Females: Minimum weight of 150 lbs., minimum height of 5’5″
• Hematocrit (Iron Level): For both men and women the percent must be 40 or above.
REMINDERS: You need to eat a meal before donating blood. You should refrain from strenuous activity for 24 hours after donating blood.
