The Register Citizen (Torrington, CT)
Torrington blood drive still has openings
TORRINGTON — Charlotte Hungerford Hospital is hosting a blood drive on Thursday, May 26, and spots are still available to sign up to donate during the blood shortage.
With blood supplies low, organizers are hoping people will come out to donate. Hospitals and patients rely upon a steady flow of volunteer donors to receive life-saving blood donations.
This will be the hospital's first blood drive with the Connecticut Blood Center, which is affiliated with the Rhode Island Blood Center. It provides all blood products, such as red blood cells, platelets and plasma, used at CHH.
On May 9, the Rhode Island Blood Center and Connecticut Blood Center announced a blood emergency, as school breaks and increased travel have caused an alarming drop in donations.
The blood supply currently stands at a 2- to 3-day level; platelets along with types O and B- are at just a 1- to 2-day supply. This is well below the ideal inventory of 5-7 days, according to the center.
According to the latest figures put out by America's Blood Centers, only 3 percent of the U.S. population donates blood.
“This time of year can always be difficult for the
blood supply, with school breaks and increased travel making blood donations less of a priority,” said Beau Tompkins, Senior Executive Director of the RI and CT Blood Centers. “We highly encourage all who are able to please donate today to help us meet this critical need in our community.”
Roughly one in seven hospital admissions require a blood transfusion. Those in need include: cancer patients, accident, burn, or trauma victims, transplant recipients, surgery patients, chronically transfused patients
suffering from sickle cell disease or thalassemia, and many more.
Charlotte Hungerford Hospital Blood Drive is set for 11 a.m.-7:30 p.m. in the hospital's memorial conference room.
For this blood drive, as a thank you for donating, each presenting donor will be entered into a raffle to win a pair of tickets to see Kane Brown in concert.
To schedule an appointment for Thursday, go to https://donate.ribc.org /donor/schedules/drive _schedule/72643