(TROY, MI) – To
supplement critically low blood supplies in the area, the City of Troy is
sponsoring a Citywide Double Red Cell blood drive on Friday, September 25 at
the Troy Community Center from
9 am-2:15 pm.
During the double red cell donation, blood is drawn
from one arm and channelled through a sterile, single-use collection set to an
automated machine. The machine separates and collects two units of red cells
and then safely returns the remaining blood components, along with some saline,
back to the patient through the same arm. The blood types in greatest demand
are Type O, followed by O
negative and O Positive. The American Red Cross will also take B Negative
depending on their inventory at the time; they will not take B Positive blood
types and never type A for double reds.
The Community Affairs office at City
Hall is now scheduling appointments at 248.524.1147. You may also sign up by visiting www.givelife.org.
The access code for the site is troy. Walk-ins are welcome, but a photo ID or Red
Cross Donor Card will be required at the time of donation. Healthy Donors age 17 and older are generally eligible to
make double red cell donations. Donors must also meet certain height, weight
and iron level requirements. Men must weigh a minimum of 130 pounds and be at
least 5’1”. Women must weigh a minimum of 150 pounds and be at least 5’5”. Both
men and women must have an iron level of 40 percent.
“The blood needs of our community can only be met by
support from volunteer blood donors,” City of Troy Community Affairs Director
Cindy Stewart said. “Donations are
critical for burn victims, open-heart surgeries, some chemotherapy and leukemia patients, and disaster relief. One donation can help save the lives of up to
three people.”
For over 90 years, the American Red
Cross-Southeastern Michigan Chapter has served the people of Wayne, Oakland and
Macomb counties. For more information
about the organization, visit semredcross.org.
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