Longmont site of two January mobile blood drives

UCHealth officials are sponsoring two blood drives in Longmont in January in hopes of bolstering supplies that traditionally dip during the holidays.

Longmont will be the site of two mobile blood drives. The UCHealth Longmont Clinic blood drive at 1925 Mountain View Ave. is slated for Tuesday, January 11^th. To schedule an appointment go to https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0548A4A82FA1FC1-longmont13

The next mobile clinic in Longmont will be Jan. 13 at UCHealth Longs Peak Hospital, 1750 E. Ken Pratt Blvd. To schedule an appointment go to https://bit.ly/UCHealth011322.

Donations are especially important this time of year since holiday schedules, travel and seasonal illnesses often prevent people from sticking to their regular blood donation schedules, said Anna Johnson, manager of UCHealth Garth Englund Blood Centers.

“Blood donations this time of year are not at the top of everyone’s mind,” Johnson said. “But transfusions don’t slow down for the holidays.”

Blood donations of all blood types are needed and important, Johnson said, but the center especially needs Type A and Type O blood types as well as platelet donations.

“Type A and Type O are just the most common blood types and that is the greatest need right now,” she said. “But we take any blood type to help us with our supplies.”

COVID-19 also has hurt donations at mobile clinics, Johnson said. “In year’s past, people would just go to the mobile clinic on their way to and from work. But now people are afraid of the lack of social distancing at the mobile clinics. That’s why we ask that they make appointments so everyone can be safer,” she said.

Donations can also be scheduled at either of Garth Englund’s blood donor centers in northern Colorado — the center at 1025 Pennock Place in Fort Collins or the center at UCHealth Medical Center of the Rockies, 2500 Rocky Mountain Ave., in Loveland, according to a UC Health news release. 

Interested donors can schedule an appointment online at http://bit.ly/uchealthblood or via phone call at 970-489-8965.

To donate, a person must be at least 18 years old (or 17 with a parent’s permission) and show a photo ID. New donors must weigh at least 120 pounds and be in good health. Prior donors must weigh at least 110 pounds. Donors also should eat a good meal before their appointment and drink plenty of water the day before and day of the donation. The whole blood donation process takes 30-40 minutes, the new release states.

The blood donor center also needs new platelet donors, the news release states. The platelet donation process can take anywhere from 90-120 minutes. More information about eligibility requirements and the donation process is posted at http://bit.ly/uchealthblood.

All blood donated through UCHealth Garth Englund Blood Donation Centers are sent to local hospitals, Johnson said. Donations help patients at Greeley Hospital, Poudre Valley Hospital in Fort Collins, Medical Center of the Rockies in Loveland, Longs Peak Hospital in Longmont, Greeley Emergency and Surgery Center and Estes Park Health.

“No blood goes out of state, it all stays in northern Colorado,” Johnson said. “We want to help people here.”

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