City of Rehoboth Beach to hold blood drive Sept. 22
In an effort to keep the local blood supply stable during these challenging times, the City of Rehoboth Beach has scheduled a blood drive by appointment from noon to 6 p.m., Tuesday, Sept. 22, at Rehoboth Beach Convention Center.
The return to school in autumn usually helps build up the blood supply as high school and college drives account for 25 percent of the blood collected daily. That has normally resulted in 8,000 blood donations during each school year by young donors.
Blood Bank of Delmarva Account Manager Ralph Groves and Rehoboth Beach blood drive coordinator Krys Johnson hope to register 80 whole blood and double red blood cell donors for this event.
Individuals are eligible to donate if they are at least 17 years old, weigh at least 110 pounds and are generally feeling healthy and well with no fever. Temperatures will be checked at the door. Remembering to eat and hydrate before donating is important.
The need for blood is constant. Blood Bank of Delmarva provides blood and blood products to the 19 hospitals in Delmarva and must see at least 350 donors each day to meet patients’ needs.
To book an appointment, call 1-888-8-BLOOD-8 or go to donate.bbd.org and use code CORB.
Donated red blood cells have a 42-day shelf life and are needed to treat patients daily. Right now Blood Bank of Delmarva is in need of donors with type O blood, which is below the optimum, seven-day inventory level.
