Blood Drive Friday at Gallatin Valley Mall

Bozeman's Biggest Blood Drive will take place on Friday, July 26, 2019, from noon to 6 p.m.at the Gallatin Valley Mall hosted by Vitalant, known formerly United Blood Services. The blood drive will be set up in the JoAnn Court.

Vitalant is the sole provider of blood donations to Bozeman Health and 30% of blood products go to cancer patients. Blood collected will stay locally and be used for local patients.

Donors will get a free t-shirt and door prizes, and Dave Wooten from the XL Morning Show will broadcast live from the blood drive

Info About Vitalant:

Vitalant is the only blood provider to more than 30 hospitals across Montana and Northwest Wyoming. If you’ve needed blood in the region, that lifesaving blood has come from one of Vitalant’s selfless donors.

Vitalant needs a minimum of 150 donors per day to meet the needs of the region.

Vitalant now gives donors the option to “fast-track” donations – you can complete your health history from home the day of your donation to speed up the process!

About the Need for Blood:

In one year, 4.5 million Americans will need a blood transfusion

The blood used in an emergency is already on the shelves before the event occurs.

One donation can save the lives of up to three people.

Someone needs blood every two seconds.

About one in seven people entering the hospital will need blood.

There is no substitute for human blood – anyone receiving a transfusion will receive blood donated by another individual.

About Blood Donation:

There are three different components to blood – red cells, plasma and platelets.

O-negative blood is the most valuable type for red cells, because it can go to anyone (used for trauma patients, infants when there isn’t time to type the blood, etc.).

A-positive blood is extremely valuable for platelet donations.

You can donate platelets every seven days, plasma every 28 days, whole blood every 56 days, and double red cells (or power red cells) every 112 days.

The FDA prohibits paying donors for blood products which are to be transfused into another human – all the lifesaving blood comes from selfless volunteer donors.

Blood donation is a safe process: a single donation is tested 13 times to ensure the safety and reliability of the blood supply for patients in need.