Blood drive set in Byron

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BYRON – On Wednesday, Aug. 30, Byron High School (BHS) Key Club and Rock River Valley Blood Center are hosting a Community Blood Drive at Mary Morgan Elementary School from noon-6 p.m.
“Walk-ins” are welcome, but if you’d like to schedule an appointment in advance, please contact BHS Key Club Advisor, Michelle Albert at 815-985-5102 (call/text).

During the last Key Club blood drive, the community, students and staff collectively donated  74 units of blood with 222 lives saved. If you are a return donor or if it would be your first time, please consider donating on Aug. 30 and help us reach our goal of 100 Units. In addition to saving lives, high school students earn college scholarships based on units collected, through the generosity of Rock River Valley Blood Center.
Who can donate?  Anyone ages 16-yrs and older (under 17-yrs must have signed parent consent form). How long does it take to donate? It takes 45 minutes to 1 hour, which includes registration, brief medical screening (blood pressure, pulse, temperature & hemoglobin), blood collection and refreshments. How often can I give blood? Every 56 days or 8 weeks. What percentage of the population is eligible to donate? Only 5 percent actually donate, but 60 percent are eligible. How much blood is taken? Approximately 1 pint or 500 ML. You have between 8-12 pints in your body, making up 7 percent of your body weight. I am diabetic, can I donate? Yes, as long as diabetes is controlled by diet, medication or insulin. If you have ever used Bovine insulin anytime since 1980 you would be deferred.
We are also have appointments for Red Blood Double Donations for Type O or B. Guidelines: Women weigh at least 150 pounds and be 5’5” tall. Men must weigh at least 130 pounds and be at least 5’ 1” tall. More than 5-million Americans are saved by blood transfusions each year, and 63 percent of all transfusions are red cells, of which type O and B are needed the most. The procedure uses a smaller needle, collected two concentrated units of red cells per donation, total volume is less than a regular donation and takes only 30-45 minutes.
Your donation aids in supplying much needed blood for 8 area hospitals.