Your pint can help four

The Saratoga Council of Catholic Women is sponsoring a community blood drive from noon to 5:30 p.m. Oct. 14 at at St. Ann’s Parish Hall.

Doctors use blood for only one reason: to sustain life. And, there is no substitute for blood. It cannot be manufactured. It is the ‘gift of life’ that only human beings can give to one another, says United Blood Services.

“Blood donors save lives,” organizer Val Larscheid said. “Several of them, in fact, because each donation can be separated into different components: red blood cells, used by surgical patients; plasma, given to those who have suffered burns or trauma; platelets, often needed by patients with cancer; and cryoprecipitate, a special blood clotting factor used to help people with hemophilia. Your one donation can help as many as four patients.”

Blood donors must be at least 17 years of age and weigh at least 110 pounds. Donors must bring with them identification containing their legal name and one of the following: date of birth, social security number, United Blood Services assigned donor number or a photo ID. Donors also need to bring a list of the medications that they are currently taking. It is helpful for donors to drink plenty of water and eat well the 24 hours before they come to donate.

United Blood Services donors can now complete their health history questionnaire on the day of their donation, which can reduce the in-person interview to only a few essential follow-up questions.

Simple instructions can be found via the “Health History Questionnaire” link on the United Blood Services website http://www.UnitedBloodServices.org. Donors who schedule their appointment online will receive a link to the questionnaire in their appointment reminder email before the blood drive.

To make an appointment to donate, visit http://www.bloodhero.com (sponsor code is “toga”) or call Larscheid at 326-8603 or 321-8865.