Here’s the latest scoop (about the blood drive)

 
On September 11, from 7:30 am to 12:30 pm, the OLOL Bloodmobile will be here at St. Luke’s. If you’ve been craving ice cream, this is your lucky day, as it will be a “pint for a pint” drive…give a pint, get a pint!

How St. Luke’s blood plan works is like a savings account; a credit for each unit donated is put in our account, and when someone who has received blood or a blood product needs to replace what was received, one call, that’s all….just phone call or email me, and our coordinator at OLOL will take it from there.

Units can be replaced as far away as MD Anderson and St. Jude’s! Given the very short shelf-life of blood, the blood or blood products that someone receives may or may not have been from a donor at St. Luke’s.

Here are some other questions you may have:

• If I have had COVID, how long do I have to wait before giving blood?
  • One can give blood 14 days after the day of the last symptom.
• Is the blood screened for COVID?
  • No, COVID is checked through a nose swab, not via a blood sample.
• Will donors be able to give 2 units on the bus?
  • Yes
• What about platelet donations?
  • Eligible donors may donate on the bus as well.

 
If you wish to donate 2 units or platelets, it is best to schedule that so that you do not have to wait for the machine to become available.

Also, there is only one machine on the bus (that can draw both 2 units and platelets), and the schedule will help the personnel from OLOL to plan what/how many supplies to bring.

Giving 2 units will take approximately an hour to donate (from screening to coming off of the machine) and platelets an hour and a half. Please let me know if you would be willing to donate in this manner, and a time will be scheduled.

I hope you will prayerfully consider giving the gift of life.

Faithfully yours,
Director of Health Ministries
bwilliams@stlukesbr.org