Blood Drive Set For March 6

An American Red Cross blood drive will be held at Trinity Church on Main Street in Newtown on Monday, March 6, from 8 am to 6:45 pm.

Supplying the blood needed for hospital patients in Connecticut is a never-ending process, said Anne Raccio, hospital services manager for the American Red Cross. Ms Raccio keeps a watchful eye on Connecticut’s blood inventory as hospitals place their orders.

Ms Raccio’s expertise has been taxed this year as blood collection levels continue to hover between one and three days supply for some blood types. “The inventory is improving, but it is still not where we want it to be,” she said. “I get the sense that the hospitals are unhappy with the current [low] inventory of O-positive blood. They’re uncomfortable and will stay uncomfortable until we can get the inventory up.”

Ms Raccio said Connecticut has been able to import some blood types, such as B-positive, from other Red Cross regions.

Anne Raccio heads the department that acts as liaison between the American Red Cross blood services and the state’s 33 hospitals. She said she is grateful that Connecticut donors have steadily come to drives because that has prevented the cancellation of surgeries in the state.

An appointment to give a pint of blood takes about an hour of a donor’s time. To be eligible, donors must be 17 years of age or older, weigh at least 110 pounds, and be in generally good health.

To make an appointment, call 800/GIVE-LIFE (800/448-3543). Appointments also can be made by signing onto the Web site at BLOODCT.org.