Hollister
– The Red Cross is setting up camp in Hollister next week and
asking local residents to take some time out of their day to
potentially save somebody’s life by giving blood.
Hollister – The Red Cross is setting up camp in Hollister next week and asking local residents to take some time out of their day to potentially save somebody’s life by giving blood.
“Really, only 2 or 3 percent of Californians give blood every year,” Red Cross spokeswoman Sara O’Brien said. “So we really need all the help we can get.”
The Red Cross visits Hollister several times a year to sponsor blood drives, and sometimes other community organizations, like Rotary, offer residents additional opportunities to give.
“We have people who always come and give blood, but they have to wait for 56 days in between appointments,” O’Brien said. “So we spread out our visits.”
Traditionally, Hollister residents are pretty good about making it a point to donate blood, she added.
“At our last blood drive we were hoping for 45 donors and had 43,” O’Brien said. “So that’s about 96 percent of our goal; that’s very good.”
The Red Cross actually always hopes more people than their goal will decide to give, because people are invariably turned away for one reason or another. On Sept. 7 they hope to see around 55 potential donors.
“We always need a few extra people just in case,” O’Brien said.
The Red Cross does have a few guidelines for potential donors, however. Anyone wishing to give blood must be at least 17 years old and weigh more than 110 lbs., but there is no upper age limit.
“A lot of people might think, ‘Oh well I’m 70,'” O’Brien said. “But as long as you’re in good health, there’s no reason not to give blood if that’s what you want to do.”
Individuals who have recently returned from countries where they may have been at risk for malaria or who have recently gotten a tattoo, however, will have to wait for an additional year before they will be allowed to give.
“If you’re getting a tattoo, then of course you should make sure that everything’s safe,” O’Brien said. “But we just want to be extra safe.”
O’Brien said donating is something everyone who is able should at least consider, even if needles make them a bit squeamish.
“The blood you give could save three lives,” she said. “So a needle pinch isn’t so bad compared to that. And how else do you get the chance to be a hero for a day in less than one hour?”
People considering donating blood should plan on putting aside an hour for their appointment, and should make sure to eat something and drink plenty of fluids without caffeine before their appointment.
“You want to stay away from foods that are very fatty right before you give blood, because we can see the fat in the blood and we can’t use it,” O’Brien said. “So don’t eat a lot of bacon right before.”
The blood drive will run from 1:30-6:30pm Sept. 7 at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints at 1670 Cienega Road. To make an appointment call 1-800-GIVE-LIFE or visit www.beadonor.com and use the code HOLLISTER.
Danielle Smith covers education for the Free Lance. Reach her at 637-5566, ext. 336 or
ds****@fr***********.com
.
