The LCCC Blood Drive Will Help Cheyenne, Wyoming Maintain Its Supply

Cheyenne, Wyoming: Laramie County Community College will sponsor the LCCC Blood Drive. It's scheduled to take place on Wednesday, September 22 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. United Blood Services (UBS) will be on hand to collect donations from students and other community members who choose to donate. Last year, United Blood Services (who currently has numerous locations in 20 states from California to Alabama) collected 132 blood products from 123 donors at LCCC, according to UBS Donor Recruitment Manager Lisa Moellenkamp.

The LCCC Blood Drive Will Help Cheyenne, Wyoming "Maintain an Adequate Supply" of Blood Products

Mollenkamp stressed that at this time, the city doesn't have a blood shortage, "Thanks to the generosity of our community, we have managed to build up our stock levels. In order to provide our hospitals' and patients' blood products, we need to collect blood everyday in order to maintain an adequate supply." Donation events at high schools and the local community college are an important factor in meeting this goal, for students help make up a large percentage of the collections during the school year. Moellenkamp complimented the area's young people for their generosity, commenting, "Based on the support we get from college students, I think it shows they are aware of the need and are open to blood donation."

Those who donate to United Blood Services also get a free cholesterol test (Total Cholesterol number is measured), where results are available online at UBS' website a week after donating by accessing their accounts. Anyone can come to donate as long as they are 16 years and older, though 16 and 17 year olds have to bring a signed minor consent form. Potential donors are asked various screening questions, have their pulse, blood pressure, and body temperature checked, as well as given a hemoglobin level test. The hemoglobin level test helps determine if donating will cause one to get anemic, according to Wikipedia. Additionally, those who want to donate are advised to drink a lot of water and eat a good meal as well as bring their donor card and/or photo identification prior to donating.

For more information about this Cheyenne, Wyoming event, call United Blood Services at 307-638-3326, or you can also contact Laramie County Community College via Jennifer McVay at 307-778-1182.

Sources for this article about the drive at Laramie County Community College:

Email between Roy A. Barnes and Lisa Moellenkamp, September 2, 2010

Flyer, LCCC Blood Drive announcement

Blood Donation: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blood_donation, Wikipedia