Windom, MN – Windom EMS, Fire Department, and Law Enforcement are joining forces to help improve the overall blood supply at Windom Area Health during the annual Heroes Behind the Badges blood drive event. The friendly blood drive competition will be held on Monday, September 20th from 11:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at Windom Area Health. Donors can log onto www.cbblifeblood.org and select ‘events,’ then ‘September 20 and Windom Area Health’ to schedule an appointment or call 507-831-0655. All who donate will receive an All American blood donor t-shirt.
“As we are seeing a surge in COVID cases around the nation, local blood donations have decreased. This downward sloop in blood collection has placed a heavy strain on the blood supply for Windom Area Health and over 35 other local area hospitals served by Community Blood Bank,” states Ken Versteeg, Executive Director, Community Blood Bank. “The need for blood is at an all-time high with more people seeking to complete their elective surgeries that have been stalled due to the pandemic. We need blood to treat all types of medical issues, including cancer patients, traumas, and premature infants. At this point we are using anywhere from 15 – 30% more blood per week than before the pandemic began. Donors are the only way to keep our supplies strong. It is our hope that we will see community volunteers come forward to provide support at this blood drive event. We are grateful for Windom’s local community Heroes.”
Community Blood Bank was founded by Sanford Medical Center and Avera McKennan Hospital in 1976 to be the sole blood provider to local area hospitals. Community Blood Bank is the sole blood provider to Windom Area Health. When you give blood on the bloodmobile you will directly save local lives in your community. Donors must be at least 17 years old (16 years old with a signed parent consent form found at www.cbblifeblood.org), weigh 110 pounds or more and be in good general health. Donors exhibiting cold or flu symptoms are unable to donate. A valid identification is required at the time of registration. It is recommended that a person eat and drink plenty of fluid prior to donating blood. With policies associated in addressing COVID-19, donor appointments are preferred, walk-ins will be accepted in open schedule times. For information log onto www.cbblifeblood.org or call 1-877-877-3070.