The Town of Elizabeth was host to a blood drive in conjunction
with Children’s Hospital Nov. 1 in the parking lot of Outback
Liquor in Elizabeth. In a four-hour span, 26 people stopped in to
donate blood. According to Elizabeth Mayor Pro Tem Susette Frausto,
the blood drive was a success.
“It was pretty steady all day and we had a great walk-in
turnout,” she said.
All of the blood will go directly to The Children’s Hospital,
which means patients who need the blood will not be charged.
Frausto said because of the many dirt roads in Elbert County,
accidents are common in the county and it was an easy decision to
work with Children’s Hospital to make a difference.
“There is always a need for blood donations, but the need
definitely goes up during the holiday season because of all the
traveling and the accidents,” she said.
Michelle Stacey is a donor resource coordinator at the Blood
Donor Center at Children’s Hospital and was on staff the day of the
blood drive. She also said the blood drive did well.
“In four hours, the maximum amount of people we can see is 32,
so to see 26 people and get almost 23 pints is great,” she said.
“Susette had it so well advertised and also people just stopping in
after seeing the sign made it a success.”
Ken Knox, from Elizabeth, was not planning on spending part of
his Saturday with a needle in his arm, but after seeing the sign he
decided to stop in.
“I saw the sign and thought, ‘hey, I don’t have anything to do
for the next hour,’ so I decided to donate some blood,” he
said.
Frausto said a lot of people are apprehensive about donating
their blood, but after the first time they realize that it’s not
that bad. The process only takes about 30 minutes to an hour, which
includes paperwork, interview and the donation.
It is important to eat and drink water before donating blood to
pump up the veins. Donors also are advised to drink extra fluids
for the next 48 hours after donating to replenish the volume taken
from their system and to avoid heavy lifting.
Frausto said she plans to be host to a few more blood drives,
hopefully starting with one at Elizabeth High School.
“I am working on coordinating one at the high school and I would
like to see 60 kids get signed up,” she said.
There will also be a blood drive Feb. 7 in the Outback Liquor
parking lot and another one April 19. For information call the Town
of Elizabeth at 303-646-4166.
