Open Blood Drive and Marrow Screening Comes to Town

GRAND TERRACE>> The City of Grand Terrace will be having an open blood drive and marrow screening on Thursday, April 13 at 2069 Van Buren Street, Grand Terrace, Ca 92313. An open blood drive allows anyone in the community, along with their friends and family, to participate in the event without making an appointment. For every donation received, participants will receive Ontario Improv tickets for admission of up to 4 people. The human body can quickly replenish any blood that participants donate. Redcross.org states that a healthy adult can donate whole blood every 56 days, which is why participants must wait approximately 8 weeks before donating again. American Red Cross also states that plasma can be donated as often as once a month and platelets can be given every 2 weeks up to 24 times each year. According to LifeStream.com, 1 in 7 people will need a blood transfusion sometime in their lifetime. Blood must be donated, tested, and made available for transfusion before it's needed. Those wishing to donate must bring a current photo ID, preferably a valid driver license. A current high school ID will suffice if a valid driver license is unavailable or does not exist. In order to prepare for donating blood, it is important to maintain a regular eating schedule and drink plenty of liquids. LifeStream also recommends that participants eat foods that are high in iron, because only those with good iron levels will be allowed to donate. Blood supplies are in constant shortage, yet the need for blood continues to grow.