Rehoboth Beach to host Blood Bank of Delmarva donation drive Jan. 25

The Blood Bank of Delmarva and the City of Rehoboth Beach have partnered to schedule a blood drive from noon to 6 p.m., Monday, Jan. 25, at the Rehoboth Beach Convention Center. 

With many blood drives on hold due to the pandemic, community blood drives such as this one in Rehoboth Beach are vital to help keep the local blood supply stable.

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. Donors are advised to eat regular meals and hydrate well the day of their appointment.

The need for blood is constant. Blood Bank of Delmarva provides blood and blood products to the 19 hospitals in Delmarva. To meet patients’ needs, the blood bank must see at least 350 donors each day.

To book an appointment, go to donate.bbd.org/donor or call 1-888-8-BLOOD-8. Use code CORB when booking online.

Donated red blood cells have a 42-day shelf life and are needed to treat patients daily. Right now, the blood bank is in need of donors with type O blood, which is below the optimum seven-day inventory level.

The blood bank will be testing donors who make a blood or platelet donation for antibodies to COVID-19 through Sunday, Jan. 31. If a donor’s antibody test is positive, the plasma component from that blood donation may be processed into convalescent plasma, currently used to help hospitalized COVID-19 patients recover; red cells or platelets will also be used for patients in need. A letter with antibody results will be mailed to donors within two weeks after a donation.

Rehoboth Beach Convention Center is at 229 Rehoboth Ave., Main Hall, Rehoboth Beach.