Edmunds County Tribune -

The Ipswich Lions Club will sponsor a Blood Drive on Thursday, Jan. 19 from 2 to 6 p.m. in Fr. Bormann Hall.

Donors can make a convenient appointment to give blood at https://donors.vitalant.org/ or by calling (877) 25-VITAL. With each donation, donors receive a free total cholesterol test.

With your help, 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.

Vitalant relies on 250 people to donate blood each day to ensure the needs of our local hospitals are met. There is no substitute for human blood, so volunteer blood donors are vital to ensure a safe blood supply for our community.

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.

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.

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