| Blood drive sparks friendly rivalry |
By: Clare Kennedy
|
Posted: Wednesday, November 11, 2009 10:46 pm
|
 Email  Print
|
Dilly Pierce works on donating her 27th gallon of blood on Wednesday. Pierce said she has been giving blood for 50 years.
|
|
By CLARE KENNEDY
ckennedy@owatonna.com
OWATONNA — The first day of the Red Cross’ semiannual blood drive sparked a little friendly competition between long-time donors.
Donor Ken Stevens is familiar to many workers at the blood drive — he’s given over 100 pints. The he heard about Dilly Pierce, who’d already given 26 gallons over the last five decades.
On Wednesday, Pierce was on a gurney while medical staff started drawing her 27th.
“I feel like a beginner,” Stevens said. “I’m going to have to catch up.”
For her part, Pierce said she already had an ongoing rivalry with Allan Radel, though she was “way ahead.”
Coordinator JoAnne LaLonde said the Red Cross has many frequent donors in Steele County, some of whom are “double reds” — those who donate two pints of blood each time.
One is Gene Hickock, an Army vet, who has been donating for years. By his estimate, he has given three gallons.
“This is an active thing you can do to save lives,” Hickock said. “When you have the opportunity to do that, you shouldn’t let it go. The first three or four times I thought I was going to faint, but I got over it.”
However, the Red Cross still needs substantial support from the community if they hope to meet their goal — 555 pints of blood in three days. As of 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, 66 people had come to the National Guard Armory to give blood. The Red Cross hoped to have 225 donors by the end of their first day, LaLonde said.
The blood will go to a centralized location — the main laboratory in St. Paul, said Red Cross Supervisor Barb Guildner. At the lab, hospitals place orders for plasma, red blood cells and platelets — components separated out of each pint.
Guildner said the blood will be used by patients in the midst of surgeries, victims of car accidents and those suffering from chronic diseases like leukemia. One pint saves the lives of three people, Guildner said, so if the Red Cross meets its goal they could help 1,500 people from just one drive.
Fortunately, the Midwest has a fairly stable supply of blood.
“Right in our area we’re holding at a two day supply — we’re maintaining,” Guildner said. “Different areas may be low if they had a huge disaster, but right now, in the Midwest, we’re very blessed with good donors and no disasters.”
The drive is only one-third complete. On Thursday donors can come to the Armory between from noon to 6 p.m. and from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday.
Anyone over the age of 17 and weighing at least 110 pounds can donate blood, and those age 16 can donate with parental or guardian permission. Depending on weight and other requirements, donors may also opt to give a two-pint donation of red blood cells.
To schedule an appointment, call the local American Red Cross office at 451-2777 or call Coordinator JoAnne LaLonde at 456-4163. Pre-registration is encouraged, but walk-ins are accepted. Those interested in donating blood can also make an appointment or get more information online at givebloodgivelife.org.
Clare Kennedy can be reached at 444-2376.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Top Jobs | Top Homes | Top Cars
| Top Jobs | General
Unity House
Various Part Time
Positions to W... | United States Census 2010
It\'s In Our Hands
Apply Now!
T... | Trades/Construction
Ellingson Companies
is now hiring ... | Healthcare
Work as a contractor
completing insurance
... | Healthcare
Chemical Health Counselor
Connections and
... |
| Top Homes | CONTRACT FOR DEED
Available immediately
$8000 Stimulus M... | 1 Bedroom, Owatonna
Non-smoking, Appl, A/C, Heat, Garbage,... | Available Now
Upper 1 bedroom in Owat
$485. includes heat,... | 1 Bedroom apartment
for rent in Owatonna.
$400+utilities... | 1 BD w/garage, hardwood fls, ground level, laundry on site ... |
| Top Cars | 1997 Ford F350
1 ton dually , white recent brake, tires a... | 1995 BONNEVILLE SSEI Red, super charged & pretty 1 small rus... |
|
Digg
Del.icio.us
Facebook
MySpace
StumbleUpon
Google
Yahoo!
