Glencoe blood drive coming up on July 26

To the Editor:
As you read this, we are two weeks away from the summer Glencoe Community Blood Drive: July 26, from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m., at the air-conditioned Glencoe City Center Ballroom. If you have not done so already, we urge you to call our Scheduling Coordinator Nelda Klaustermeier at 320-864-3475 to set up an appointment to donate blood. Appointments are encouraged and always have priority over walk-ins.
We specifically need double-red (now called Power Red) donors — those who are able to give a “double dose.” We have many slots to fill for July double-red donations. Double-red donors must wait 112 days between donations, so our double-red donors from the April drive are not eligible to give at this July drive but will qualify again for our November blood drive. (Regular whole-blood donors must wait 56 days between donations). If you are able, please consider giving a “double dose.”
The American Red Cross in Minnesota is making an emergency call for blood and platelet donations. Spokeswoman Sue Thesenga says there have been about 61,000 fewer donations than needed in the last two months, and the blood inventory is at a critical level right now which has prompted the need for the emergency call. Thesenga said (a week ago) that the Red Cross had less than a five-day blood supply on hand. A blood emergency means there may not be enough for those in need and patient care could be delayed. “Please let all donors know their donation is critically important.” You can help lessen the summer shortage simply by scheduling a donation time and rolling up your sleeve.
Summer is a time when blood donations drop. We are busy going to the beach, the lake, the pool, ballgames, picnics, outdoor concerts, parades, fairs, reunions, vacation destinations … the choices in Minnesota are endless in the summer!
Unfortunately, the need for blood and platelets does not stop. Every two seconds, someone in the U.S. needs a blood transfusion. Blood is a perishable product and cannot be manufactured; it can only come from volunteer donors. Each blood unit donated can save up to three lives.
There are 24 hours in a day, 168 hours in a week, and 744 hours (31 days) in the month of July. Please consider spending about an hour of your time to donate at the drive. You will feel good knowing that by donating one unit (or two), you have helped change up to three lives per unit.
One final plea: If you have a scheduled appointment, please try your best to keep the appointment. At all our previous blood drives, an average of 23 percent of people who made appointments were “no-shows!” For the past three drives (July 2016, November 2016 and April 2017), we were unable to meet the blood drive goals set for us by the American Red Cross with the donors who kept their appointments. But imagine what we could do as a community if all who made an appointment, kept it! Help us meet the goal set for us at this July drive.
Your commitment is appreciated, most of all by the patients who are the recipients of your donation.
Thank you in advance for your time and your donation.
Charleen Engelmann,
Coordinator
Glencoe Community