Employees at Harlingen Medical Center care for patients, and give the gift of life, at the hospital’s quarterly Community Blood Drives hosted in partnership with the South Texas Blood & Tissue Center. The award-winning and nationally recognized hospital will host a Blood Drive on Wednesday, November 16, 2016, between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m., at the hospital’s Main Lobby, located at 5501 S. Expressway 77, in Harlingen. The general public is invited to donate at the event.
The time to give is upon us. And, imagine giving the most precious gift of all, life! You can do it while sitting back and extending your arm to donate blood.
The award-winning and nationally recognized Harlingen Medical Center is hosting a Community Blood Drive, in partnership with the South Texas Blood & Tissue Center (STBTC), on Wednesday, November 16, 2016, between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m., at the hospital’s Main Lobby, located at 5501 S. Expressway 77, in Harlingen.
According to national statistics, someone in the United States requires blood for an emergency situation every two seconds. And, right now, with so many people planning to travel the roadways to visit loved ones over the Thanksgiving holiday – blood donations are crucial to so many blood supply agencies, like STBTC and hospitals.
“Hosting this community blood drive is one way Harlingen Medical Center fulfills its commitment to the community – life-saving services, along with top-quality clinical and compassionate care,” said Brenda Ivory, President & Chief Executive Officer at Harlingen Medical Center. “It is important to Harlingen Medical Center to be able to support the community during a time of need.”
Donating blood is a simple and painless process that saves more than four million lives each year, in the U.S. alone.
For those who wish to make a blood donation, the South Texas Blood & Tissue Center reminds everyone that you must:
- Be at least 18-years of age
- Weigh at least 110-pounds
- Eat before making a donation
- Be in good health and not be taking antibiotics
- And, provide proper identification at the time of registration.
Across the Rio Grande Valley, there is a continued need for blood donations as it serves the various needs of patients at various hospitals. Factors that tend to affect blood shortages include: a blood donation must be used within 42-days after it is donated; patients that are going through life-saving treatments such as chemotherapy need it; and patients who have been transported to an Emergency Room with trauma injuries tend to require a blood transfusion.
According to the South Texas Blood & Tissue Center, any who meets the aforementioned criteria can be a donor. And, those who donate more than once a year – may donate every three months.
“With the holidays just around the corner – so many people travel, filling the roadways with vehicles, and, unfortunately, accidents happen. So, I want to encourage everyone to come by Harlingen Medical Center and donate the gift of life, next Wednesday (11/16),” said Manny Chacon, Regional Director of Business Development & Marketing at Harlingen Medical Center. “It’s the time to give and make an impact, right here, in our community.”
To learn more about the Harlingen Medical Center and South Texas Blood & Tissue Center Community Blood Drive, contact the Business Development and Marketing Department at 956-365-1848 or MChacon@primehealthcare.com.