The American Red Cross has scheduled a series of opportunities for Tooele County residents to donate blood.
The drive started Friday at Stansbury High School. The next one will be on Tuesday, July 22, from 2-7 p.m. at the Grantsville Church Street Chapel at 81 Church Street.
The next will be hosted by the Girl Scouts of Tooele, along with the American Red Cross. It is scheduled for Saturday, July 26 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Tooele LDS Stake Center Cultural Hall, 253 S. 200 East, Tooele.
To donate at this blood drive, donors must schedule their appointment at www.redcrossblood.org and enter the sponsor code: Girl Scouts. Donors can also schedule an appointment by contacting Julia Jensen at 435-850-2122. Attending this particular blood drive will also help raise money for local Girl Scouts.
“If we receive forty five pints of blood, the Red Cross will give us $100 and we’re planning on giving that to the new Charter School for library books,” Jensen said. “Doing the blood drive will also complete the Girl Scouts’ community service project for their bronze awards.”
There will be snacks and beverages provided for donors at the blood drive.
The leading cause of faintness and dizziness while donating is a drop in blood pressure, according to the Red Cross. Donors are advised to drink lots of water or fruit juice the night before donating to help maintain blood pressure. Donors are also recommended to drink four glasses of water or juice three hours before the donation.
For those who fear needles, donating blood isn’t the only way to help. The Red Cross is always looking for volunteers to host a blood drive, especially during the summer when supplies are low and demand is high. To volunteer, contact the American Red Cross at www.redcrossblood.org.
According to the American Red Cross, donating one pint of blood could save up to three lives.
Patience will be a junior at Tooele High School this fall.