RUMFORD — Blood reserves are again at a critical low in New England, which is why Rumford Hospital and the River Valley Rotary are sponsoring a Red Cross Blood Drive.
It will be held from noon to 6 p.m. Wednesday, June 8, at the Rumford American Legion.
“There is a particular need for type O negative blood, which can be received by people with all blood types and is often used in emergencies when there’s no time to determine the patient’s blood type,” Jane Bubar, hospital spokeswoman, stated Wednesday morning by email.
She said there will be “Double Red” machines at this drive.
“These machines take only the red cells, returning the remainder of the blood to the donor and gaining two units of blood instead of the usual one unit of whole blood,” she said.
Those planning to give double reds are asked to mention that when signing up, because special appointment lists are used for these donors.
“Or ask more about double reds as only certain blood types are eligible,” Bubar said.
Appointments may be made by calling the Red Cross number at 1-800-GIVE LIFE or Rumford Hospital at 369-1000 to sign up for an appointment to make whole blood or double red donations.
“Please be sure to indicate which type of donation you wish to make,” she said.
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- Longtime blood donors and River Valley Rotary blood drive volunteers Joe Sirois, left, of Rumford and Greg Trundy of Bryant Pond hold a sign Wednesday to remind people that it is critical to donate blood on Wednesday, June 8, at the Rumford American Legion. Sirois retired recently as the executive director of the Hope Association; Trundy, who lived in Rumford until a few years ago, is the Mexico Waste Plant manager.
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