SOUTHWICK – Baystate Health will be holding a blood drive on Tuesday from 1 p.m. until 6 p.m. The Baystate Health Bloodmobile will be located at 195 College Highway, outside of the Big Y, and they will be taking all blood types.
Amy Benson, a recruiter for the Blood Donor Program at Baystate Health, emphasized just how important it is for people to donate blood.
Baystate Health will be holding a blood drive at the Big Y in Southwick on Tuesday. (Photo courtesy of Baystate Health)
“With all of the inclement weather from this winter, a terrible flu season, and the slow start to Spring, blood donations have been extremely low,” said Benson. “We are reaching out to the community for their support of a blood donation to Baystate Health.”
According to Benson, one hundred percent of the blood donated to the program stays local in order to help all Baystate Health hospitals in the area. The hospitals include Baystate Noble Hospital, The D’Amour Cancer Center for Care, Baystate Wing, Baystate Mary Lane, Baystate Franklin, The Baystate Children’s Hospital, and Baystate Medical Center (the area’s only Level 1 Trauma Center).
In order to be able to donate blood, you have to meet certain requirements. People need to be at least 17-years-old, weigh 110 pounds or more, and be in good health. Interested individuals also have to know where they’ve traveled in the past three years, bring all lists of medications they may have, and make sure they have food and fluids in them prior to giving blood.
Anyone who ends up donating blood will receive a Big Y gift card, a gold coin, and other extra benefits from the Big Y Pharmacy in partnership with their wellness program.
