Woonsocket hosted a blood drive with United Blood Services on June 20 at the Community Center which helped collect at total of 53 units of blood for patients in need. 

A total of 46 individuals volunteered to donate blood and 44 individuals were able to donate at the United Blood Services blood drive on June 20. A total of 10 donors also came forward to donate Power Red Cells (2RBC) which collects two units of red blood cells while returning platelets, plasma and a saline solution back to the donor. There were four people who volunteered for the first time.

United Blood Services expressed their gratitude to Paula Linke, who coordinated the drive, as well as others who assisted the day of the drive: Annie Podhradsky, Gay Swenson, Janet Baysinger, Shelly Wheeler, and Tami Ziebart.

UBS strives to keep a five-day supply of every blood type on the shelf at all times to be able to meet the needs of patients across the region.  Donations from O-negative donors, the universal blood type, are especially important this time of year due to increased accidents and trauma cases.

The blood supply is dependent on selfless donations from volunteer donors to ensure the lifesaving needs of the region are met. 

About 30 percent of UBS’s blood supply goes to cancer patients across the region and one in seven people entering the hospital will need blood. Those relying on blood in the region receive that lifesaving blood from UBS. 

Donors can make a convenient appointment to give blood at www.bloodhero.com or by calling (877)827-4376.  With each donation, donors receive a free total cholesterol test and earn points in United Blood Services’ Hero in Me rewards program.

Blood donation takes about an hour from check-in to refreshments. Donors can save about 20 minutes by completing their Fast Track Health History the day they donate on www.unitedbloodservices.org