Palmerton area to host blood drive
The Palmerton Area Community will be hosting a blood drive from 11:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Wednesday in partnership with Miller-Keystone Blood Center at the West End Fire Co., 855 Princeton Ave., Palmerton.
It is estimated that 38 percent of the U.S. population is eligible to donate, yet only about 3 percent do. The goal is to collect 65 units at Palmerton’s January drive, which could save 195 lives.
Blood donations will be used at one of the 22 local community hospitals including Lehigh Valley Health Network, St. Luke’s, Sacred Heart Hospital, Grand View Health, Penn State Health St. Joseph, Penn State Hershey, Reading Health System and Hunterdon Healthcare.
In the dead of winter and one of the coldest snaps in recent memory, the Miller-Keystone Blood Center in Hanover Township, Northampton County, experienced a burst pipe and subsequent flooding which closed the center for five days. The location on Valley Center Parkway is the most popular site for donors, according to Michael McShane, senior director of recruitment.
Donations made there account for about a quarter of the donations necessary for area hospitals.
This blood drive will help the center replenish their supply and service area hospitals.
Donors must be 16 years of age or older. There is no upper age limit for blood donors. Donors must weigh a minimum of 110 pounds, feel healthy on the day of their donation and provide valid identification. Consent of parent/guardian is required for 16-year-old donors; additional donor eligibility requirements can be found at GIVEaÂPINT.org.
To schedule a donation at Palmerton Area Community Blood Drive, contact Alice Wanamaker at 484-274-2080 or AliceW@CarbonCountyChamber.org appointments can also be scheduled online at giveapint.org and reference sponsor code 1361.
