You could save a life! Local blood supplies are critically low, and officials at UCHealth’s Garth Englund Blood Donation Centers are asking you to consider donating blood.

A number of recent trauma incidents have depleted much of the supply in northern Colorado. Plus it has been a busy summer season, when donations are typically down because of vacations and summer break.

Blood Types That are Needed

Donations of all blood types are needed, however, the center especially needs donors with the following blood types:

  • O blood types – both negative and positive – are used in trauma cases.
  • AB blood type is needed for plasma donations.
  • A blood types – both negative and positive – can help with either red cell, platelet or plasma donations

Blood Drive

A special blood donation drive event will be held from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. July 7 in the Café F meeting room in the lower level at Poudre Valley Hospital, 1024 S. Lemay Ave. in Fort Collins. To schedule an appointment to give blood during the drive, call 970.495.8965.

Schedule a Donation

Donations also can be scheduled at either of Garth Englund’s blood donor centers in northern Colorado -- the center at 1025 Pennock Place in Fort Collins or the center at Medical Center of the Rockies, 2500 Rocky Mountain Ave., in Loveland. Interested donors should call 970.495.8965 to schedule an appointment at either of these locations.

Requirements

To donate, a person must be at least 18 years old (or 17 with a parent's permission) and show a photo identification. New donors must weigh at least 120 pounds and be in good health. Prior donors must weigh at least 110 pounds. Whole blood donations take 30-40 minutes. Platelet donations take anywhere from 45-110 minutes.

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