With 22 blood units collected, the Blood Drive hosted on April 19th by Rep. Tony McCombie and the City of Savanna at the Savanna Fire Department is estimated to save approximately 66 lives by the American Red Cross. 17 blood units collected were whole blood with five power red units for a total of 22 units donated.
“Thank you to all of our donors and volunteers at this spring blood drive,” said Rep. McCombie. “We are all so grateful for those who respond to the constant need for blood donations, but especially at such a critical time of need with blood drives continuing to be cancelled throughout the country during this global pandemic.”
According to the American Red Cross, every 2 seconds someone in the U.S. needs blood and or platelets. Approximately 36,000 units of red blood cells are needed every day in the U.S., while less than 38 percent of the population is eligible to give blood or platelets. A single car accident victim can require as many as 100 units of blood. Blood and platelets cannot be manufactured; they can only come from volunteer donors.
This is the second additional blood drive Rep. McCombie and the City of Savanna have hosted because of the shortages due to COVID-19. Rep. McCombie and the City of Savanna will continue to host their annual year-end drive in December. Those wishing to donate blood in the interim may contact the American Red Cross or any other local blood bank of their choosing.