Movies at Midway, Blood Bank of Delmarva to host blood drive Jan. 18
The Blood Bank of Delmarva will partner with the Movies at Midway for a blood drive from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 18, at the theater complex, 18585 Coastal Highway, Suite 1, Rehoboth Beach.
To sign up for this blood drive, go to tinyurl.com/5xxsx45a or call 1-888-8-BLOOD-8.
BBD continues its celebration of National Blood Donor Month in January with its second annual blood drive in partnership with Movies at Midway. As a thank you for giving the lifesaving gift of blood donation, all donors will receive a free movie ticket.
National Blood Donor Month aims to raise awareness about the importance of blood donation and to honor those who have already made a lifesaving contribution. The inaugural National Blood Donor Month was proclaimed by President Richard Nixon and held in January 1970 to acknowledge voluntary blood donors and encourage more individuals to donate for the first time.
“Movies at Midway is part of the community, and we wanted to help out the Blood Bank of Delmarva during a difficult collection time, namely winter,” said General Manager Brooke Lowe. “We’re happy to provide a venue to BBD and make it convenient for local residents of Rehoboth Beach and vicinity to donate blood. Plus, you get a free movie ticket for your time.”
The winter months present unique challenges for blood donations as family vacations, holiday travel, seasonal illness and inclement weather all contribute to making blood donations less of a priority. Hospitals and patients rely upon a steady flow of volunteer donors, but the past few years have brought chronic blood shortages nationwide.
It only takes one hour to donate, and a single donation can save multiple lives. Roughly one in seven hospital admissions requires a blood transfusion. Those in need include cancer patients; accident, burn and trauma victims; newborn babies and their mothers; transplant recipients; surgery patients; chronically transfused patients suffering from sickle cell disease or thalassemia; and many more.
Blood donors can give every 56 days, and platelet donors can give twice per month. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently lifted several blood donor eligibility restrictions. To view current eligibility guidelines, visit delmarvablood.org or call 1-888-8-BLOOD-8.
