Becky Robertson feels a responsibility as a registered nurse to help others. The surgical services RN decided to do her part by donating blood during a two-day Tomah Health / Versiti Blood Center of Wisconsin blood drive at Tomah Recreation Park July 15 & 16. “I just like helping people however I can,” said Robertson, who has been a nurse for six years, including the last four years at Tomah Health.
Versiti officials reported that O negative blood and O positive blood inventories are extremely low and encouraged residents to help with the need for blood. “It feels good to know that I’m helping fill that gap and potentially saving lives,” added Robertson.
Because of Robertson’s high hemoglobin count, she was also able to make a double red cell donation July 16, which allows donors to donate two units of red blood cells thereby giving more products that are needed most by patients. “It’s an easy way to support the community and be able to provide something that’s needed,” Robertson added.
A double red cell donation is like a whole blood donation, except a special machine is used to allow the donor to safely donate two units of red blood cells during one donation while returning plasma and platelets to the donor and saving time. Double red cell donation takes approximately 30 minutes longer than a whole blood donation and a person can donate approximately every four months.
Versiti is the sole blood supplier to over 60 hospital systems in Wisconsin including Tomah Health, which Robertson said is a way her blood can help locally. “It’s good to know that we’re helping people even just in our local community. It’s not going far and wide. It’s right here,” Robertson said.
Versiti account representative Jackson Braasch said the two-day drive collected blood that will help 240 Wisconsin patients. “The incredible support from the Tomah community during a time of year when blood donations traditionally decline is truly inspiring. Because of the generosity of these selfless donors, local patients will have access to lifesaving blood products during some of their most critical moments,” Braasch said.
As an extra incentive, all attempting donors received a coupon for a free gate admission to the Monroe County Fair courtesy of the Monroe County Agricultural Society. Tomah Health marketing and public relations director Eric Prise thanked the Agricultural Society and Tomah Parks & Recreation Dept. for supporting the drive. “Based on the extra need for blood it was great to have area businesses, organizations and area residents turn out to support this important drive,” said Prise. “We are especially thankful to Parks & Recreation director Joe Protz and his staff for hosting all of our drives,” he said.
The next Tomah Health / Versiti blood drive will be held Aug. 27 at Tomah Health.