Kaua‘i residents can give Hawai‘i’s patients another chance at life by donating blood at one of three drives scheduled in August for the Garden Isle, a news release says. The drives will be held: • 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Aug. 10,
Kaua‘i residents can give Hawai‘i’s patients another chance at life by donating blood at one of three drives scheduled in August for the Garden Isle, a news release says.
The drives will be held:
• 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Aug. 10, Grand Hyatt Kaua‘i, Kaua‘i Ballroom
• 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Aug. 11, Wilcox Memorial Hospital, conference rooms A, B & C
• 7:30 a.m.-4 p.m., Aug. 12, War Memorial Convention Hall
Every day in Hawai‘i, hundreds of patients count on volunteer blood donors for their very survival, the release says.
Typical uses for the donated blood include surgical procedures, treatment of accident victims, ulcers, anemia, mothers and newborns during delivery, and cancer therapy.
Because each donation is separated into three different components — red blood cells, platelets and plasma — a single donation can help save the lives of up to three people.
The donation process is safe and usually takes about an hour, the release says. There is some paper work, a confidential interview and a mini–physical, but the actual collection of blood takes only five to eight minutes.
In Hawai‘i, only 2 percent of the eligible population donates blood. More donors are always needed.
The requirements to be a blood donor are simple: be in good health; be 18 years of age or older (17 with signed Blood Bank of Hawai‘i parent/legal guardian consent form); weigh 110 pounds or more; bring a valid photo ID with date of birth.
To make an appointment or get more information, visit www.bbh.org or call the Blood Bank of Hawaii toll-free at 1-800-372-9966.