Daniel Prince
$50 eGift cards given to donors through the end of the year
The Blood Connection is adding extra incentive to give the gift of life this holiday season. The organization says that the holiday season is typically one of the hardest times of year, as the number of blood donations goes down but the demand for blood remains high. Hoping to spur more donations, anyone who donates whole blood with The Blood Connection at a blood drive or donation center between now and December 31 will earn 2000 bonus TBC rewards points, which is worth a $50 eGift card. The Blood Connection emphasizes that blood donors are needed for there to be enough blood for its 100 hospital partners and their patients through the New Year.
There will be three local blood drives between now and December 31 to take advantage of the bonus rewards. The Blood Connection will be in the Walmart parking lot on Christmas Eve, Saturday, December 24, from 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. They will return on Monday, December 26, from 2-7 p.m. A third drive is planned for Thursday, December 29, from 2-7 p.m. Appointments are recommended for the drives. You can make an appointment online at donate.thebloodconnection.org and search for blood drives in Union County.
To prepare for your blood donation, be sure to eat a healthy and hearty meal before donating. Drink at least 2 cups of water before donating. Bring your donor card or photo ID with your birth date with you when you donate. Platelet donors must also be aspirin-free for 48 hours prior to donating.
If you qualify, you can donate double red blood cells. These are the most transfused blood product and thus are most needed by local hospitals. Red blood cells are typically given to trauma patients, newborns, and others suffering from blood loss or blood disorders. It does take around 20-30 minutes longer than a whole blood donation. You can make a double donation up to three times a year. If you make a double donation, you will receive extra TBC reward points. A donor must be 16 years old or older, meet certain height and weight requirements, and have a hemoglobin level of 13.3 or higher.