By Sue Wambolt, Contributing Writer
Southborough – There is always a need for blood donations but during the holidays, the situation becomes even more critical. To help meet that need, several groups will be holding blood drives this week.
The Southborough Medical Group (SMG) hosted the Metrowest Medical Center (MWMC) Community Blood Donor Program on Dec. 16 in its new UMass Memorial at Southborough/Marlborough Hospital Specialty Care Center meeting room. Donors received either a Panera Bread gift card or long-sleeve shirt in exchange for a pint of blood.
Beverly Guay, from the Optical department and Cristina Bettinelli, receptionist in Specialties, both used their lunch breaks as a time to give blood. Veteran blood donor and retired Fay School nurse, Donna Lelke, brought a book along to pass the time. Lelke is a 40-year resident of Southborough and a member of the Southborough Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) and Medical Reserve Corps (MRC).
Paul Duffy, owner of Medical Couriers, in Duxbury, was on hand, ready to deliver the blood donations from SMC to MWMC.
Drawing blood for the MWMC program were nurses Maryann Corbett, Mary Daniels and Barbara Langley.
Red Cross Blood Donation Facts and Figures: Need for Blood Donation
- Every two seconds, someone in the United States needs blood.
- Only 5 percent of eligible donors across the United States donate blood, while the requirement for transfusions is increased by 9 percent every year.
- More than 38,000 blood donations are needed on a daily basis.
- One out of every ten hospital admissions requires blood transfusion as a part of the treatment.
- The blood type most often requested by hospitals is Type O.
- More than one million people are diagnosed with cancer each year, most of whom will need a blood transfusion during chemotherapy treatment.
- The actual process of blood donation does not take more than ten minutes. The entire process, right from signing-in till the time you leave could take up to an hour.
- One car accident victim alone can require up to 100 units of blood.
- One donation can help save the lives of up to three people.
- One out of every ten hospital admissions requires a blood transfusion as a part of the treatment.
(source: www.redcrossblood.org/learn-about-blood/blood-facts-and-statistics )
Local blood drives through the end of the year:
Walgreens, 256 Washington St., Hudson on Dec. 27 from 2 to 8 p.m. (Free Boston Bruins T-shirt for all donors)
Westborough Senior Center, 4 Rogers Rd., Westborough on Dec. 27 from 2 to 8 p.m. (Wachusett Mountain lift ticket for all donors)
Marlborough Masonic Hall, 8 Newton St., Marlborough on Dec. 28 from 2:30 to 7:30 p.m. (Free Boston Bruins T-shirt for all donors)
Walgreens, 225 Boston Turnpike, Shrewsbury on Dec. 29 from 1 to 6 p.m. (Free Boston Bruins T-shirt for all donors)
