Published by Kirby Winn on Friday, July 30, 2021 in News Releases
ImpactLife, blood provider to Ottumwa Regional Health Center, announces the expansion of operating hours at its Ottumwa Donor Center (1007 E. Pennsylvania Ave.). The expanded hours mean donors can now schedule appointments to give blood in Ottumwa seven days a week. Under the new hours, the ImpactLife Ottumwa Donor Center will now be open Monday through Wednesday from 10 a.m. until 6:30 p.m., Thursdays and Fridays from 8 a.m. until 1 p.m., Saturdays from 7 a.m. until 12:30 p.m., and on Sundays from 7 until 11 a.m. Appointments are required for donation. To schedule, call (800) 747-5401 or schedule online at www.bloodcenter.org, or via the ImpactLife mobile app (www.bloodcenter.org/app).
“We’re pleased to expand scheduling opportunities for our donors in Ottumwa,” said Courtney Jones, Manager, Donor Services, noting that it was especially important to add appointments for platelet donation on Sundays. “Platelets have to be used within just five days of the donation,” said Jones. “It’s important to have new donations on Sundays that can be tested and ready to deliver to hospitals during the following week.”
ImpactLife is the provider of blood components to more than 120 hospitals in Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, and Wisconsin and collects donations on mobile blood drives as well as its 20 “fixed site” Donor Centers spread across the ImpactLife service region.
Donors Needed: projection for blood supply is low in weeks ahead
The Donor Center’s opening comes at a critical time for the region’s blood supply as projections for blood donation have dropped in the weeks between Fourth of July and Labor Day. ImpactLife seeks to collect approximately 3600 donations every week to support a five- to seven-day supply of all blood components across its entire service region. However, due to blood drive cancellations in the COVID-19 pandemic, projections in the weeks ahead are at approximately 2800 donations per week, leading to a two to three-day supply of blood components that are in highest demand.
Blood donations are often used to help treat patients with cancer, victims of trauma and patients undergoing major surgeries. All persons age 17 and up (or 16, with a signed parental permission form) who weigh at least 110 lbs. and are in general good health meet the basic eligibility requirements for blood donation. For more information, call ImpactLife at (800) 747-5401, visit www.bloodcenter.org., or download the IMPACT mobile app at www.bloodcenter.org/app.
Ottumwa Donor Center Hours of Operation
Monday - Wednesday: 10am - 6:30pm
Thursday & Friday: 8am - 1pm
Saturday: 7am - 12:30pm
Sunday: 7am - 11am
Address: 1007 E. Pennsylvania Ave., Ottumwa
For appointments, call (800) 747-5401
“Thank You” to Donors: all receive voucher for quarter-zip top or $10 gift card, and entry in $500 gift card drawing
ImpactLife is excited to offer all blood donors a gift as a special thank you. Everyone who registers to give blood by Sept. 12, 2021 at any ImpactLife donor center or mobile blood drive will receive a voucher to redeem for a long-sleeve, quarter-zip athletic top or a $10 gift card. Additionally, all who come to give will be automatically entered for a chance to be one of three weekly winners to receive a $500 gift card. (Learn more at www.bloodcenter.org/promotions.)
About ImpactLife
ImpactLife is a not-for-profit community organization providing blood services to more than 120 hospitals in Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, and Wisconsin, as well as resource sharing partners across the country. Services extend from southcentral Wisconsin to St. Louis, Missouri and from Danville, Illinois to Chariton, Iowa. (See a map of the ImpactLife service region.) ImpactLife operates 20 Donor Centers and holds approximately 5000 mobile blood drives annually to provide blood components needed for patient transfusions at hospitals throughout our region.
ImpactLife recently announced its new name. For more information on the name change, see www.bloodcenter.org/impactlife. For more information, see www.bloodcenter.org and find us @impactlifeblood on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and Snapchat.