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The Need for Blood is Constant

From the Desk of Dr. Antonucci

July 28, 2021

You have a unique opportunity to save lives and serve patients throughout our community by donating blood. At Lee Health, we use approximately 800 units of blood each week. Blood has a relatively short shelf life—42 days—so we need to replenish it often. Because the need for blood is constant, we rely on local donors to help us meet that need.

献血是安全的和容易。之前donating blood, the technician checks your pulse, blood pressure, body temperature and hemoglobin. Upon successful donation, you’ll also receive your cholesterol level and blood type. Donating blood allows your body to replenish its supply and helps the body function more efficiently. Most people can donate blood as many as six times a year—that’s once every 56 days.

The donation process takes about 45 minutes, including a mini-physical and simple medical history questionnaire. The actual donation process takes less than 15 minutes. Each donation, which is one pint, is processed to help multiple people heal. Blood is used to help patients recovering from surgeries—like trauma, orthopedic, gynecologic and open-heart—and hematology/oncology patients who need red blood cells and platelets.

In health care, there is no substitute for human blood because there is no other substance that can heal and save lives the way blood does. So, if you are looking for a relatively easy way to help others, giving blood is it. In less than an hour, you can help multiple people with your one pint of blood.

You can visitwww.tinyurl.com/LHBloodDrivesto find an upcoming Blood Drive near you. It is important to note that all blood donated at a Lee Health Blood Center or on the blood mobile stays within our community for patients being treated within our health system.

If you aren’t able to make it to one of the Lee Health Blood Mobile drives, you can donate at one of the Lee Health Blood Centers. Visitwww.LeeHealth.org/Our-Services/Blood-Centersfor more specific information about blood donation, including donor requirements, locations, hours of operation and more.