During Trauma Awareness Month in May, the American Red Cross urges the community to help ensure lifesaving blood is available for patients with traumatic injuries and other serious medical needs by donating blood or platelets.
According to the National Trauma Institute, trauma accounts for approximately 41 million emergency department visits and 2.3 million hospital admissions in the U.S. annually.
O negative red blood cells and AB plasma can be transfused into any patient, regardless of blood type, making donors with these universal blood types an important part of the Red Cross trauma team. Less than 7 percent of the population has type O negative blood, and only about 4 percent of the population has type AB blood.
Platelets may also be needed to help with clotting in cases of massive bleeding. Because platelets must be transfused within five days of donation, there is a constant – often critical – need to keep up with hospital demand.
Upcoming blood donation opportunities in Marshall County include
May 3rd from 8:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. at the Argos Elementary School located at 600 Yearick Avenue.
May 10th from 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. at the Culver High School located at 701 School Street.
May 18th from 8:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. at the Bremen High School located at 511 West Grant Street.
May 23rd from 1 p.m. – 7 p.m. at Jefferson Elementary School located at 401 Klinger Street in Plymouth.
May 24th from 1 p.m. – 6:30 p.m. at Key Bank located at 2701 North Michigan Street in Plymouth and
May 31st from 11:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. at St. Isidore Hall at 803 West Bike Street in Bremen.
