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January 13, 2022
Blood drives address emergency status
Special Awards at January 22 Blood Drive
“It’s déjà vu all over again,” a “Yogiism” from Baseball Hall of Famer Yogi Berra. He was a star New York Yankee, played in 21 World Series and took home 13 rings. Unfortunately, this “Yogiism” fits the current emergency in our blood supply. The latest pandemic announcements and pronouncements, makes it “déjà vu all over again” for blood donation. The Bandera American Legion Post 157 has been coordinating routine blood drives since August 2020.
The next Bandera County blood drive is at Silver Sage Community Center on Jan. 22, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. All donors will receive a coupon for a pint of HEB Creamy Creations ice cream and a free T-shirt in addition to their points for use on hundreds of gift cards.
January is National Blood Donor month, and the South Texas Blood and Tissue Center has declared an emergency, especially for blood type O, most commonly used for transfusions due to an accident or illness.
Bandera County donors gave more than 128 units of whole blood in 2021 at the monthly local blood drives. This doesn’t count the special drives at Bandera High School in October or at Bridlegate. With traditional whole blood donation, all parts of the blood such as plasma and red blood cells are taken.
There is another form of blood donation that can help twice as many people as whole blood donation called “Double Red Blood Cell.” During the donation process, the whole blood goes through a machine that separates the red blood cells from the other blood components including (platelets, plasma, and white blood cells). These blood components are then returned to the donor. Because parts of the blood are returned to the donor during the process, most donors experience minimal side effects. Red blood cells are also the most needed component of the blood for hospitals and clinics. In 2021, over 50 Bandera County heroes donated this way. Again, Bandera County “GOAT – Greatest of All Times” heroes provided over 60 of these type blood donations.
Sign up for the drive by calling 210-731-5555 or on line: https://donor.southtexasblood.org/donor/schedules/drive_schedule/132555
Future drives include: Feb. 19, April 9, June 11 at the Lakehills Community Center; and March 26, April 9, and May 21 at the Silver Sage Community Center. For more information, contact Susan at 210-788-9160. Social distancing will be enforced, with adequate spacing provided between donor stations. All staff and donors are required to wear face coverings such as a mask. Temperature checks will be in effect at the event as well.
The next Bandera County blood drive is at Silver Sage Community Center on Jan. 22, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. All donors will receive a coupon for a pint of HEB Creamy Creations ice cream and a free T-shirt in addition to their points for use on hundreds of gift cards.
January is National Blood Donor month, and the South Texas Blood and Tissue Center has declared an emergency, especially for blood type O, most commonly used for transfusions due to an accident or illness.
Bandera County donors gave more than 128 units of whole blood in 2021 at the monthly local blood drives. This doesn’t count the special drives at Bandera High School in October or at Bridlegate. With traditional whole blood donation, all parts of the blood such as plasma and red blood cells are taken.
There is another form of blood donation that can help twice as many people as whole blood donation called “Double Red Blood Cell.” During the donation process, the whole blood goes through a machine that separates the red blood cells from the other blood components including (platelets, plasma, and white blood cells). These blood components are then returned to the donor. Because parts of the blood are returned to the donor during the process, most donors experience minimal side effects. Red blood cells are also the most needed component of the blood for hospitals and clinics. In 2021, over 50 Bandera County heroes donated this way. Again, Bandera County “GOAT – Greatest of All Times” heroes provided over 60 of these type blood donations.
Sign up for the drive by calling 210-731-5555 or on line: https://donor.southtexasblood.org/donor/schedules/drive_schedule/132555
Future drives include: Feb. 19, April 9, June 11 at the Lakehills Community Center; and March 26, April 9, and May 21 at the Silver Sage Community Center. For more information, contact Susan at 210-788-9160. Social distancing will be enforced, with adequate spacing provided between donor stations. All staff and donors are required to wear face coverings such as a mask. Temperature checks will be in effect at the event as well.