Staff and academics at the UC Kearney Agricultural Research and Extension Center (KARE) hosted the Central California Blood Center's Blood Mobile today. In all, 22 people stepped up to donate a pint.
The Central California Blood Center says more than 75 percent of Americans who reach age 72 will need blood at some point in their lifetimes; 97 percent will have a loved one or friend who will need life-saving blood. Among the most common procedures that require blood are heart surgery, accidents, organ transplants and bone marrow transplants.
Since blood is a fragile, liquid living tissue, it has a limited shelf life. Red blood cells last 42 days, platelets last 5 days, and plasma can be frozen and stored for one year. CCBC is the sole provider of blood donations to hospitals in Fresno, Madera, Tulare, Kings and Mariposa counties. It strives to always maintain a five- to seven-day supply of blood.
The Kearney blood drive was organized by KARE safety coordinator Alan Cary.
Attached Images:
Blood mobile at Kearney.
First-time donor, Jarnelle Naikaima, an administrative manager at Kearney.
Staff research associate Sue Collin (left) and physical plant mechanic Patrick West prepare to donate.