Tyler Community Blood Drive

January marks National Blood Donor Month, a time to honor the invaluable contributions of the millions of blood donors nationwide who assist patients during critical moments. Community Blood Bank will partner up with Avera Tyler Hospital to hold a community blood drive on Tuesday, January 14th from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm and 1:30 to 4:30 pm. you can schedule a donation by logging onto cbblifeblood.org, selecting ” events”, and choosing January 14th, or call Community Blood Bank at 605-331-3222. All those who donate blood will receive a $15 D.Q. gift card as a thank you.

Blood donors must be at least 17 years old(16 years old with a signed parent consent form available at cbblifeblood.org), weigh at least 110 pounds, and be in good general health. Individuals displaying cold or flu symptoms are unable to donate. Valid identification is required at registration. It’s recommended to eat within 3 hours of donating blood, and drink plenty of fluids before donating.

According to American Blood Centers (ABC), “Only three percent of eligible Americans currently donate blood, despite 65 percent of the population being eligible to do so. Additionally, donations from those aged 65 and older increased 40% between 2019 and 2021, highlighting the need for focused recruitment efforts on younger generations. If you have never donating blood, join in to keep the blood supply strong throughout the winter months.

Ken Versteeg, Executive Director of the Community Blood Bank, emphasizes, “National Blood Donor Month is a significant time when we acknowledge how each donor and donation fortifies our blood supply. January sees heightened demand for blood due to challenging weather conditions impacting travel safety, coupled with the cold and flu season hindering potential donors. We welcome new donors to our blood bank program, as well as those that have donate with us multiple times. For nearly 50 years, Community Blood Bank has been a local blood provider to the region and the sole blood provider to Avera Tyler Hospital. We look forward to seeing everyone at the blood drive at Avera Tyler Hospital.”