Local blood supply under stress

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BROOKINGS – The Brookings Fire Department and law enforcement will come together to help improve the overall blood supply at Brookings Health System during the annual Heroes Behind the Badges blood drive event.

The friendly competition blood drive will be Aug. 24 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and from 2:30 to 5 p.m. at the Brookings HyVee, 790 22nd Ave. S.

Donors can log onto www.cbblifeblood.org and select “events,” Aug. 24 and HyVee Heroes Behind the Badges to schedule an appointment or call 605-331-3222. All who donate will receive an All-American blood donor T-shirt and more.

“We are reaching a point where we cannot keep up with the demand for blood. There has been a sharp decline in overall donations due to the newest strain of COVID reducing the number of donors that are eligible to give,” Ken Versteeg, executive director of Community Blood Bank, said in a news release. “Local volunteers are the only way we will improve the overall blood supply for local patients. Community Blood Bank has been the sole blood provider to Brookings Health System for over 25 years. The Brookings community has continued to come out to improve the outlook for the local blood supply and it is our hope we can have a very successful turn out this time. Please plan on donating blood on Aug. 24 at this community blood drive. Show your support towards local heroes and local patients in need.”

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. For more information, log onto www.cbblifeblood.org or call 1-877-877-3070.