NSB Blood Drive To Supplement Summer Shortage

By Nancy K. Crevier

Connecticut is experiencing a shortage of more than 300 units of blood this month, an earlier decline than the normally anticipated summer dip in blood donations, according to Brenda Wagner, account manager for the Connecticut region of the American Red Cross. To offset the shortage, Ms Wagner hopes that the call for donors for a blood drive scheduled June 15 at Edmond Town Hall in the Alexandria Room from 11 am to 4:30 pm will receive a huge response. The June blood drive, one of two sponsored every year by Newtown Savings Bank, hopes to generate at least 50 units of blood.

“That means we will need at least 75 donors,” Ms Wagner said. Not every donor will meet the criteria needed to donate blood. “We have a big deferment because of travel,” she said. “People who have recently visited countries that are prone to malaria, for example, cannot donate blood. If someone has a low hemoglobin or has been ill, they will be deferred.”

The American Red Cross Blood Services-Northeast Division was forced to cut shipments of type O negative blood to hospitals the first week of June, according to a press release from the Connecticut Blood Service Corporate Department.

In Connecticut alone, 650 units of blood must be collected each day just to meet the basic needs of area hospitals. Donated blood is used to help trauma patients, transplant recipients, and those receiving treatment for life threatening illnesses. The Red Cross relies entirely on volunteer blood donors to meet the transfusion needs of Connecticut patients. The need for donated blood is constant, but summer is a particularly challenging time for the American Red Cross to collect blood.

Healthy people 17 years of age or older weigh 110 pounds or more can donate blood.

Newtown Savings Bank officials and Red Cross representatives are confident that Newtown residents will step up to the challenge. An added incentive to this summer’s NSB blood drive is a drawing for a $100 savings bond and a drawing for a $50 gift certificate, donations of Newtown Savings Bank. All donors are eligible to enter the drawings.

To schedule an appointment, call 800-GIVELIFE or log onto www.givelife.org, sponsor code: NSB. Walk-ins are always welcome, Ms Wagner emphasized.