Give the Gift of Life and Give Blood This Summer

During the summer months, a lot of people hit the road for vacations which can leave Iowa blood banks low on blood supplies.  Did you know that every two seconds someone in the United States needs blood?  Did you know that over a lifetime, 90 percent of people who live to be 70 years old will need blood?  Did you know that one pint of blood can potentially save three lives?  Giving blood regularly is a really big deal to cancer patients, premature babies, new mothers, surgical patients and trauma victims with all different blood types.
In the weeks before you donate blood, be sure to eat foods high in iron and drink lots of water.  Some high iron foods include fortified cereals and breads, beans, oysters, spinach, red meat, fish, dried fruits such as prunes and raisins, orange juice, strawberries, and broccoli.
If you would like to give blood, mark your calendar and plan to attend the next Red Cross blood drive in Galva on Thursday, August 25th from 1:00 pm to 6:00 pm at the Methodist Church located at 300 Crawford Street.  You can sign up online to donate at www.redcrossblood.org or simply call LuAnn Bennett at 282-4608 for an appointment time.  Walk-ins are always welcome, and the thank-you-for-donating snacks are pretty good!
You can donate blood every 56 days to help someone you may or may not know.  Are you ready?  Give blood this summer and save three lives!