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Blood drive reaches goal
As you may know Covid 19 prevented us from having our April blood drive, but it couldn’t stop us this time! “We are so pleased that we not only met our goal but we surpassed it” commented Brenda Kaschmitter, blood drive co-chair. We had 101 people register, and out of those we collected 95 successful units, 77 units of whole blood and 9 Double/Power Red (which counts for 18). During a ‘double’ red cell donation, blood is drawn from one arm and channeled through a sterile single-use collection set to an automated machine. The machine separates and collects two units of red cells and then safely returns the remaining blood components, along with some saline, back through the same arm. Donors have to meet specific criteria in order to donate the two units of blood; height, weight, age and have a specific blood type. As an added bonus everyone that had a successful donation had their blood tested to see if they have the Covid 19 antibodies. If Vitalant has your email address you should have gotten an email with instructions on how to obtain your results. If they do not have your email you can log on to your account at Vitalant.org to see your results. We would like to also extend a big thank you to our first time donors, Kaylee Brotzman and Madison Rehder hopefully this will now become a lifetime practice for both of them! “And once again we need to thank our great volunteers; without them this blood drive would not be possible; Linda Arnzen, Lydia Diess, Judy Forsman, Kathy Kuther, Joyce Lorentz, Mary Lorentz, Sally Rehder, Colleen Sonnen, Theresa Uptmor and VFW Post 4902” said Donna Quick, blood drive co-chair. “The volunteer duties include, making lunch for the Vitalant workers, checking in and escorting donors, and offering maple bars, water and juice. We have some of the best volunteers around.” said Quick. Co-chairs; Brenda and Donna would also like thank the 20 employees of St. Mary’s Hospital that took the time from their busy day to come in to support the blood drive by donating. The hospital also purchases the maple bars, fruit and vegetables the donors enjoy after giving blood. The next blood drive will be held on August 25, 2020; if you would like to make an appointment to give that day please contact Brenda Kaschmitter at 962-3251 or you self-schedule by going online at www.vitalant.org.
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