Blood Donation: How You Can Aid in the COVID-19 Fight and Make Your Community Healthier

Every two seconds, someone in the U.S. needs blood – but only about 10 percent of those who are eligible to give actually make a blood donation each year. Donated blood is a necessary part of helping patients cope with a wide variety of conditions, including burns, trauma, heart surgery, cancer, organ transplants and more. A one-time blood donation can save the lives of up to three people.

Today, as our community continues to fight COVID-19 and UP Health System cares for patients suffering from this deadly disease, the need for donated blood is greater than ever. In addition to blood donations needed to prevent blood shortages and ensure a sufficient supply for standard surgical and patient care, certain donations may be able to help COVID-19 patients recover more easily.

If you have recovered from COVID-19, please consider donating. It is a gift that could potentially save lives. Even if you have not had COVID-19, your blood donation can help prevent a blood shortage.

Donating blood is a simple and safe process that includes registration, a confidential medical history survey and mini-physical, and the donation itself, which takes no more than 10 minutes. After your donation, you’ll receive a snack and take a brief rest so you can get back to your day’s activities with minimal disruption.

Blood donation is one of the simplest and most effective ways you can give back to your neighbors, help us fight illness and disease, and make our community healthier.

All blood donations made through the Upper Peninsula Regional Blood Center are kept here in the Upper Peninsula. The Upper Peninsula Regional Blood Center is the sole provider to 13 Upper Peninsula Hospitals. When you donate with them you are keeping your blood donation local.

If you are interested in giving blood or have questions regarding the donation process, please contact the Upper Peninsula Regional Blood Center at https://www.facebook.com/UPRBC906/ or call 906-449-1450 to learn more about COVID-19 precautions and if you’re eligible to donate.