Dowd Insurance Agencies to Host Blood Drive Oct. 16

HOLYOKE — The Dowd Insurance Agencies will host a second blood drive in a series benefiting the Baystate Blood Donor Program. The drive will be held Friday, Oct. 16 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Dowd Insurance Agencies parking lot, 14 Bobala Road, Holyoke.

Each year at Baystate Health, more than 5,800 patients receive more than 23,000 transfusions of blood products, which means local blood donations are critical. At the Baystate Blood Donor Program, 100{06cf2b9696b159f874511d23dbc893eb1ac83014175ed30550cfff22781411e5} of all blood and platelet donations are used in Western Mass.

Blood donation is easy and convenient. Roughly one pint of blood is collected during each donation, which can save up to three lives. To be eligible, blood donors must be at least 17 years old, be in good health, weigh at least 110 pounds, and have photo identification. Donors are able to give blood every eight weeks.

According to the American Red Cross, every two seconds someone in the U.S. is in need of blood. The blood type most often requested is type O because it can be transfused to patients of all blood types. While an estimated 38{06cf2b9696b159f874511d23dbc893eb1ac83014175ed30550cfff22781411e5} of the U.S. population is eligible to donate, fewer than 10{06cf2b9696b159f874511d23dbc893eb1ac83014175ed30550cfff22781411e5} actually do.

To schedule a time to donate, call Diane Cygan at (413) 437-1013 or e-mail dcygan@dowd.com.