MercyOne Air Med partners for blood drives


Members of the Mason City, Iowa, MercyOne Air Med crew. Mercy One Photo

Iowa blood donors will impact more than 700 lives after attending blood drives coordinated by MercyOne in Des Moines, Mason City and Sioux City.

MercyOne Air Med partnered with LifeServe Blood Center, Iowa’s largest nonprofit community blood center, to coordinate community blood drive events in cities with Air Med helipads on Friday, May 13.

The event produced some amazing results:

  • 214 blood donations
  • 48 first time blood donors
  • 234 units of blood collected
  • 702 lives saved

“We had a great turnout and the generosity of Iowa blood donors is amazing,” said MercyOne Air Med Flight nurse Sara Meyer. “The event proved anyone can make a difference. We had a couple who came to see a sick relative. They saw our blood drive and both donated before their visit.”

Blood products are crucial to hospitals and EMS systems. When MercyOne Air Med helicopters launch on lifesaving missions, units of blood are on board. Two units of blood were given during a MercyOne Air Med flight just days after the drive. LifeServe says the MercyOne Air Med blood drive provided a huge boost.

“We are so thankful to the MercyOne team for hosting these lifesaving blood drives throughout our communities and to the generous blood donors who rolled up their sleeves,” said Danielle West, Director of PR and Marketing at LifeServe Blood Center. “The blood donations collected at this blood drive are critical to patient care in the communities we serve.”

All blood donations from the event will stay in Iowa. Blood supplies have been critically low because of heavier seasonal blood needs and the COVID-19 pandemic. The need for blood never stops, and we encourage everyone to continue answering the call to save a life.

This press release was prepared and distributed by MercyOne Air Med.

  
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