This is National Blood Donor Month as Iowans are asked to roll up their sleeves and give the gift of life. Christine Hays, director of the Des Moines-based Blood Center of Iowa, says she’s grateful for the support Iowans have shown through their participation in blood drives during all of last year.
She says more than 39,000 units of blood are used in hospitals and emergency treatment centers every day and the only place blood can be obtained is from other people. Hays said it’s a simple process to donate blood and you can do so as often as every eight weeks, or about six times a year.
Hays says it’s amazing how our bodies can replenish that blood so quickly. Hays said the Blood Center has an impressive history over the years, including providing blood to the victims of 9/11, the Littleton, Colorado, High School attack in 1999 and the Oklahoma City bombings in 1995. Hays says there is still a constant demand for blood.
She says only about five-percent of the population donates blood. The center supplies blood to 49 hospitals in 44 Iowa counties. Blood drives are held about every week in the state.
For a complete listing, visit the Blood Center website .