UnityPoint Health—Grinnell hosts blood drive

GRINNELL — UnityPoint Health-Grinnell Regional Medical Center is partnering with LifeServe Blood Center to host a blood drive Monday, Aug. 25, from 11 a.m.-3 p.m.

The LifeServe blood drive will take place in GRMC’s Tomasek Conference Room on the first floor of the medical center in Grinnell. Donors should enter through the main entrance, located on the south side of the building at 210 Fourth Avenue, and follow posted signs to the Tomasek Conference Room.

Community blood centers, like LifeServe Blood Center, collect approximately 60% of the nation’s blood supply. Annually, it takes thousands of generous volunteer donors to support hospital patients through blood donation. Unfortunately, of the total U.S. population, 62% are eligible to donate, but only 3% donate blood each year.

Often, people assume they are ineligible to donate blood because there are multiple myths surrounding blood donation. For example:

• Myth: I can’t donate blood because I’m on medication.

• Fact: Most medications do not disqualify you from donating.

• Myth: Diabetics on insulin cannot donate blood.

• Fact: Diabetics on insulin can donate blood if their condition is well-managed.

• Myth: I have a tattoo, so I can’t donate blood.

• Fact: You can donate blood if your tattoo was done at a state-regulated tattoo shop.

Sign up today to reserve a spot. Whole blood and double red appointments available. It only takes one hour to save three lives.