Donors needed for Fiesta Blood Drive
Thank you to the generous blood donors in Bandera County! The easing of COVID-19 restrictions means there is an increased demand for blood products.
Auto accidents in Texas are up. Elective surgeries and cancer treatments are back on schedule. Bandera County donations remain in South Texas and are on our ambulances and helicopter assets every day.
Our neighbors of all ages who are trauma victims, diabetics, hemophiliacs, deliver premature infants, receive tissue or organ transplants, those with sickle cell anemia, cancer patients and so many more need your generous donation every day.
Sign up now for the Saturday, April 9, 2022, Fiesta Blood Drive, at Lakehills Community Center, from 10 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Just call 210-731-5590 to make an appointment or go to https://donor.southtexasblood.org/donor/ schedules/drive_schedule/132015.
You can also find details on who can donate, preparation, and the procedure. Walk-ins are welcome. Gift card points are awarded and special prizes are on hand. In March, it was an amazing T-shirt. This month it will be a Fiesta Medal and more!
It is always a good idea to eat before donating and be well hydrated. It is best to drink non-caffeinated fluids as caffeine can sometimes lower your iron level. Wear comfortable clothing, bring identification and a list of your medications: reading materiel or a small blanket for napping might be useful too.
Before you donate, there is a health screening to ensure you are eligible to donate. This includes a questionnaire as well as taking vital signs (pulse, temperature, blood pressure, iron-level check).
Anyone who is 16 years old weighing 120 pounds (with parental consent), or at least 17 years old weighing 110 pounds, and in good general health can donate blood. There is no upper age limit. A technician will swab your arm and insert a needle into a vein. NOTE: The South Texas Blood and Tissue Center technicians conduct this procedure thousands of times a week: they are the best. Everything is new, sterile, and used only once. There is no risk of disease transmission to a donor.
After your donation, refreshments are provided to replenish the body’s fluid levels. Donors should remain on site for observation for 10-15 minutes. It is that easy to save a life in the span of less than an hour.
Saving a life, which could be a member of your own family, is an amazing way to care for your community and give to others. Whatever donation you make, patients are thankful for your lifesaving efforts. Sign up now at 210-721-5590 or 1-800- 292-5534, ext. 3500.