The need for blood donations grows during the holidays

Throughout the year blood donations create critical tools for medical care in emergency situations. A car accident or major injury can occur at any time of the year. During the holiday season cases of drunk driving can increase by 40 percent compared to other times of the year. Making donations of blood types O – and A – is very important.

UP Health System Marquette, we do serve as a level two trauma center. So we do see our fair share of traumas and quite a bit of those will receive some kind of blood product, whether it be blood or platelets or plasma. Also, cancer patients, tend to receive blood quite a bit and platelets as well. And we do have a pretty robust operating room and inevitably some of those patients will be products as well. – Dana Langsford, UP Regional Blood Center

Around the Upper Peninsula, the regional blood center organizes donation drives at several locations. Tomorrow the center will host a drive in Marquette at the UPHS Marquette Hospital. The next donation drive in the local community will occur on January 8th at Houghton High School. Those interested in learning more about other donation sites in the Upper Peninsula or want to contact the UP Regional Blood Center to organize a blood drive in the community can find more information here.