Two blood drives planned at Wood County locations

Placing a value on blood is best accomplished by imagining if blood was not available when you or someone you love needed it. Think about what that looks like: a life lost, a surgery delayed or cancelled, trauma services not available, and even cancer patients without the transfusion support for the side effects of chemotherapy.

Blood has a limited shelf life; sustaining the community supply requires daily contributions from heroic blood donors that provide transfusion support for 600 to 800 patients a day in north, central and east Texas hospitals.

For decades, Carter BloodCare’s largest donor participation pool has been comprised by those of the World War II era and Baby Boomer generations, but these groups are aging. It is essential that everyone in the community begins to look at blood donation as a fundamental support for robust, high-tech medical care.

The Quitman Brookshire’s is hosting a blood drive from 10 a.m. to noon Friday, Dec. 27 at 502-C E. Goode St. in the parking lot on the Carter BloodCare bus. For more information or to schedule an appointment time, contact Jacque Decker at 903-504-0812.

Holly Brook Baptist Church is hosting a blood drive from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 29 at 3219 South FM 2869 in the family life center. For more information or to schedule an appointment time, contact J.R. Mathews at 903-769-2091.

Eat a nutritious meal and drink plenty of water one to two hours before giving blood. Standard eligibility requirements are a minimum weight of 110 pounds, the donor feels well that day and presents a government-issued photo ID at each donation.