Edmunds County Tribune -

Ipswich Lions Club hosted a blood drive with Vitalant, formerly United Blood Services, on January 14 at Holy Cross Catholic Church which helped collect a total of 34 units of blood and five units of plasma for patients in need.

A total of 32 individuals volunteered to donate blood and 29 individuals were able to donate at the Vitalant blood drive on January 14. A total of six donors also came forward to donate Power Red Cells (2RBC) which collects two units of red blood cells while returning platelets, plasma and a saline solution back to the donor.

Vitalant expressed their gratitude to Lawrence Stafford, who coordinated the drive, and the Ipswich Lions Club which sponsored the blood drive, as well as others who assisted the day of the drive: Colleen Forkel, Dianne Stafford, and Deanne Hoyle.

Vitalant strives to keep a five-day supply of every blood type on the shelf at all times to be able to meet the needs of patients across the region. Donations from O-negative donors, the universal blood type, are especially important this time of year due to increased accidents and trauma cases.

Vitalant is the only blood provider to nearly 70 hospitals across the region. The blood supply is dependent on selfless donations from volunteer donors to ensure the lifesaving needs of the region are met.

About 30 percent of Vitalant’s blood supply goes to cancer patients across the region and one in seven people entering the hospital will need blood. Those relying on blood in the region receive that lifesaving blood from Vitalant.

Donors can make a convenient appointment to give blood at http://www.bloodhero.com or by calling 877-25-VITAL. With each donation, donors receive a free total cholesterol test and earn points in Vitalant’s donor rewards program.

Blood donation takes about an hour from check-in to refreshments. Donors can save about 20 minutes by completing their Health History Questionnaire the day they donate on http://www.vitalant.org .