Sibley, Iowa — The need for blood remains great during the pandemic, with the number of donors being cut so that the staff has time for sanitizing. Your next chance to help bolster the blood supply is this Wednesday in Sibley.
The Sioux Falls Community Blood Bank Bloodmobile will be holding a blood drive this Wednesday, March 24th, 2021 at the Osceola Regional Health Center. Blood bank and hospital representatives ask you to please take some time out of your day and give the gift of life. They remind you that the life you save may be someone you know.
Hospital personnel are asking you to call the Osceola Regional Health Center to make an appointment at 712-754-5358.
Community Blood Bank Executive Director Ken Ver Steeg tells us some things to keep in mind when you are going to donate blood.
(as said) “When you come in to donate we ask that you bring an identification with you, whether it be used… bring a driver’s license, student ID, or or even a work identification would work just fine. We also ask that you make sure that you’ve had something to eat. So if you’re going to donate in the morning have breakfast if you’re going to donate in the afternoon, make sure you had a good lunch, and also hydrate. Make sure that you take the time to drink plenty of fluids.. Gatorade, water… those are our best options that we recommend. Most countries do not exclude you from donating blood if you’ve traveled there, but we do need to know those… that information because there are few countries that are malaria risk areas. Also if you’re on medications, please bring the name of the medications with you. Most medications are okay to donate on as well.”
Ver Steeg says all donors must be at least 17 years of age or 16 years old if they have a signed parent consent form found at cbblifeblood.org, weigh at least 110 pounds, and be in good health. You can donate blood every 56 days.
The Community Blood Bank is the sole supplier of all blood and blood products for Osceola Regional Health Center. Blood bank officials emphasize that no hospitals in our area, including Osceola Regional Health Center, receive any blood or blood products from the American Red Cross.
Again, due to COVID-19, appointments are mandatory.
