Sheldon, Iowa — An event that’s becoming a tradition in Sheldon is coming up on Monday (February 24th). The annual Heroes Behind The Badges Blood Drive will be held at the Sheldon Community Services Center.
Ken Ver Steeg, executive director of the Community Blood Bank tells us it’s all about helping people who need blood and honoring our heroes.
The team of emergency responders who wins gets a traveling trophy and bragging rights, says Ver Steeg. He says the heroes happen to be people that see how much blood gets used, when they help out at trauma scenes and so forth.
Speaking of the use of blood, Ver Steeg says the blood supply could really use your donation right now.
Ver Steeg tells us that O-negative blood is always in high demand because it doesn’t have any of the antigens, A, B, or the Rhesus factor — so O-negative blood can be given to anyone of any blood type, and their body won’t fight it or have a reaction.
The blood drive is from 10:00 to 1:30 and from 3 to 5 on Monday.
Donors must be at least 17 years old (16 years old with a signed parent consent form), weigh 110 lbs or more and be in good general health. It is recommended that a person eat and drink plenty of fluids prior to donating blood. Please bring an ID with you at the time of donation. For more information log onto www.cbblifeblood.org, call Community Blood Bank at 1-877-877-3070 or call Sheldon Chamber and Development at 712-324-2813.
