Sheldon, Iowa — Your next chance to help bolster the local blood supply is coming up on Friday in Sheldon.
Community Blood Bank Executive Director Ken Versteeg tells us the bloodmobile will be at Citizen’s State Bank this Friday, April 23rd.
(as said) “We’re going to be there from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. taking blood donations. This is open to the public and we are looking for blood donors that are… especially… we want all blood types. But we’re looking at especially for A and O. Donors with blood types A and O because at this point we just issued on Friday a critical status of appeal for types O and A. What a critical status means is that we have less than 72 hours of that specific blood type on the shelves for treating local patients. So unfortunately since this O and A make up about 70% of the blood supply, it’s a pretty serious critical appeal for blood right now because it affects so many patients’ lives that use O and A. So we are asking people to schedule an appointment with Citizens State Bank to come in and donate blood at that event.”
He says both positive and negative types are needed. That is to say, they are short on A-positive, A-negative, O-positive, and O-negative blood.
You need to be at least 17 years of age or 16 with a signed parent consent form found at cbblifeblood.org. Versteeg tells us what people are eligible to donate.
(as said) “They just have to weigh a hundred and ten pounds or more, be in good general health… not getting over a cold or flu and then, of course, COVID. The vaccinations do not affect people that want to donate blood. If you’re thinking well, can I donate blood? I just had a recent vaccination. There is no wait. It doesn’t matter which vaccine you had. There is no wait for you to donate blood you can actually donate blood right after receiving the vaccine. And those donors looking to donate… they can just call the bank number at 712-324-2519. Ask for Jill and she will get you scheduled for this week Friday between ten and two.”
He says if you have actually been infected with COVID, you have to be COVID-free for 14 days. If you had an infusion to help speed up COVID recovery, you have to wait 30 days before donating. Versteeg tells us that other kinds of restrictions such as those about places where malaria is a risk, out-of-area tattoos, and having lived in Europe during the Mad Cow Disease years have changed, and you can contact the Community Blood Bank for more information.
