Donors attending MercyOne Air Med blood drives will impact 702 lives
May 19, 2022
Des Moines/Mason City/Sioux City, Iowa – Iowa blood donors will impact more than 700 lives after attending blood drives coordinated by MercyOne in Des Moines, Mason City and Sioux City.
MercyOne Air Med partnered with LifeServe Blood Center, Iowa’s largest nonprofit community blood center, to coordinate community blood drive events in cities with Air Med helipads on Friday, May 13.
The event produced some amazing results:
- 214 blood donations
- 48 first time blood donors
- 234 units of blood collected
- 702 lives saved
“We had a great turnout and the generosity of Iowa blood donors is amazing,” said MercyOne Air Med Flight nurse Sara Meyer. “The event proved anyone can make a difference. We had a couple who came to see a sick relative. They saw our blood drive and both donated before their visit.”
Blood products are crucial to hospitals and EMS systems. When MercyOne Air Med helicopters launch on lifesaving missions, units of blood are on board. Two units of blood were given during a MercyOne Air Med flight just days after the drive. LifeServe says the MercyOne Air Med blood drive provided a huge boost.
“We are so thankful to the MercyOne team for hosting these lifesaving blood drives throughout our communities and to the generous blood donors who rolled up their sleeves,” said Danielle West, Director of PR and Marketing at LifeServe Blood Center. “The blood donations collected at this blood drive are critical to patient care in the communities we serve.”
All blood donations from the event will stay in Iowa. Blood supplies have been critically low because of heavier seasonal blood needs and the COVID-19 pandemic. The need for blood never stops, and we encourage everyone to continue answering the call to save a life.
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About MercyOne
MercyOne is a connected system of health care facilities and services dedicated to helping people and communities live their best life. MercyOne’s care providers and staff make health the highest priority. The system’s clinics, medical centers, hospitals and affiliates are located throughout the state of Iowa and beyond. Headquartered in central Iowa, MercyOne was founded in 1998 through a collaboration between CommonSpirit Health and Trinity Health – two of the country’s foremost, not-for-profit Catholic health organizations.
About LifeServe Blood Center
LifeServe Blood Center is a non-profit, community based blood center that has served the needs of local hospitals and patients in our regions since 1963. As one of the 15 largest blood centers in the country, LifeServe Blood Center is the SOLE provider of blood and blood products to more than 120 hospitals located across Iowa, Nebraska, and South Dakota. LifeServe is committed to saving lives by providing premier service to volunteer blood donors and access to a safe, quality blood supply for hospitals and patients. Your donation with LifeServe will help save your neighbor, a friend, family member or a stranger on the street. YOU make a difference in YOUR community. For more information about blood donation or to schedule an appointment to donate blood, call 800.287.4903 or visit www.lifeservebloodcenter.org.
