Edmunds County Tribune -

The Ipswich community hosted a blood drive with Vitalant on June 27 at Holy Cross Catholic Church which helped collect a total of 36 units of blood products for patients in need.

A total of 31 individuals volunteered to donate blood and 30 individuals were able to successfully donate at the Vitalant blood drive on June 27. 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 Jerald Brooks, who coordinated the drive, the Ipswich Lions which sponsored the blood drive, and Holy Cross Catholic Church which provided the location.

The need for blood is constant and Vitalant strives to always keep a five-day supply of every blood type on the shelf to be able to meet the needs of patients across the region. Trauma and burn patients, premature infants, heart surgery patients, organ transplant recipients and people fighting cancer all require blood transfusions for their care.

Blood donations are needed daily to maintain a strong blood supply and meet ongoing patient needs. Vitalant encourages healthy individuals to make blood donation a part of one’s regular routine to help meet the ongoing needs.

Donors can make a convenient appointment to give blood at http://www.donors.vitalant.org or by calling 877-25-VITAL. With each donation, donors receive a free total cholesterol test and earn reward points.

Blood donation takes about an hour from check-in to refreshments, while the blood draw typically taking less than 10 minutes. Donors can save about 20 minutes by completing their Health History Questionnaire the day they donate on http://www.vitalant.org/health .