Of all the reasons to donate blood, receiving a Fiesta medal for your kindness isn’t at the top of the list…but it certainly doesn’t hurt!
#EndTheBloodShortage
The top reason for donating is that the San Antonio region does not currently have an adequate daily supply of blood to help cancer patients, new moms, accident victims, organ transplant patients and others.
Dr. Joyce Schwartz, Blood Bank Director at the Methodist Hospital System, called the shortage “truly a life-or-death situation.”
Pandemic disruption
South Texas Blood & Tissue supplies more than 100 hospitals and 48 counties in this region. Donations have dropped because of the on-going pandemic, but the need for blood is up because of the San Antonio region’s continued growth. Working from home has also diminished the number of worksite drives.
Eight donor rooms are located in San Antonio, Boerne, New Braunfels and Victoria, or you may also donate at a mobile location.
Lorna Doone, Oreo, CheezIt?
My husband and I regularly donate at South Texas Blood & Tissue’s northeast location on Loop 410 near Starcrest, and we’re pleased with the friendly, professional staff and the tasty post-donation snacks. Being gifted with Fiesta medals and colorful t-shirts are an added bonus. Donating never takes more than an hour.
“Frozen” was on the overhead screen while we were there, and the idea of karaoke blood donations popped into my head. If not karaoke, sing-along sessions. Why not?! It would help with nerves, and South Texas Blood & Tissue could do theme nights: Prince, Queen, ABBA, The Beatles, Patsy Cline and more! You heard it here first.
No time like the present!
Creating an account is easy, and you are able to fill out a pre-donation online survey at home the morning of your scheduled appointment. The survey includes questions about your exposure to HIV, COVID and travel outside of the United States.
Donating blood is one way that you can pay it forward in this lifetime. Schedule your appointment today!
Denise Barkis Richter, Ph.D., author of “San Antonio’s Passport to Fun,” has been blogging about San Antonio since June of 2010. Follow her at facebook.com/SanAntonioTourist so that you’ll never miss a post. Her love affair with the Alamo City began at Hemisfair in 1968. She moved to San Antonio in 1979 as an 18-year-old college student, and San Antonio has been her home ever since. Denise completed certification to become a professional tour guide in 2019. Please contact her at sanantoniotourist at gmail dot com if you’d like for her to curate a fabulous San Antonio experience for you!
