Season of giving extends to blood donations

COEUR d’ALENE — Blood donors are being sought to help stabilize the supply for local hospitals.  

A single donation has the potential to save up to three lives. About one in seven people entering a hospital will require a blood transfusion, according to Vitalant and American Red Cross statistics. 

Audrey Lewis heads up Vitalant territories in North Idaho and Montana. She said the agency is looking to make sure there are enough donations to carry the region’s supply through the holiday season.  

“So far, we've been fortunate to avoid significant weather-related disruptions,” Lewis said. 

     

Blood donations are especially necessary for trauma and burn patients, premature infants, heart surgery patients, organ transplant recipients and people fighting cancer who require blood transfusions.  

“In North Idaho, we also experience a drop in donor turnout, as many of our regular donors migrate to warmer locations during the winter months,” Lewis said.  

Schedule a donation appointment or sign up to host a blood drive at vitalant.org or by calling 1-877-258-4825. 

Vitalant’s blood donation center at 405 W. Neider Ave. No. 102, Coeur d'Alene is open seven days a week. There are several mobile blood drives planned in North Idaho in January. 

Mobile blood drives: 

Jan. 7: 2:30-6 p.m. Kootenai Health Bus drive 

Jan. 10: 7:30 a.m.-2 p.m., Kootenai Health Ponderosa Tamarack Blood Drive 2003 Kootenai Health Way 

Jan. 11: 10 a.m.-1 p.m., Sandpoint Saturday on bus at Super 1 Foods  

Jan. 14: 11 a.m.-4:45 p.m. Bonners Ferry Community at LDS church 

Jan. 15: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sandpoint Community at Parkside Church