South Georgia Technical College hosted a blood drive through the American Red Cross recently. The blood drive was held in Hicks Hall on the Americus campus and all eligible donors were encouraged to participate.
The blood drive resulted in registering 29 total donors. A total of 24 pints of blood were given and there were nine first time blood donors.
By taking a moment from your day to donate, individuals may be giving someone else a chance at life. A single blood donation can be separated into components, which can actually help more than one person. Accident victims and surgery and anemia patients can benefit from red blood cells, and platelets help with blood clot and are often used for cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. Also, plasma is often used to treat patients suffering from burns, shock, or bleeding disorders. Most healthy people can give blood every 56 days. In order to give blood, an individual must be at least 17 years of age, weigh at least 110 pounds, and be in good general health. Donors are encouraged to get a good night’s sleep the night before donating, eat a well-balanced meal, and drink lots of fluids prior to donating.
For more information on blood donation, visit redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-GIVE-LIFE (448-3543). To schedule an appointment to donate, visit www.redcrossblood.org and use sponsor code SGTC.
South Georgia Technical College’s next blood drive is scheduled for September 17, 2019.