Joe Minney enjoys donating blood and helping others in his community. “I’ve always wanted to donate,” said Minney who took part in a two-day Tomah Health – Versiti Blood Center drive at Tomah Recreation Park March 18. “I was in the military, and we donated blood all the time. So, it’s just part of the feeling of service to the community and that’s why I like doing it.”
Versiti account representative Andrew Miller said Minney was one of 70 people who donated during the March 18 & 19 drives that will help 219 patients at community hospitals, like Tomah Health. “In a week where most people had already lost plenty of time clearing snow, 70 people gave up an additional hour to come out and donate blood at Recreation Park. Thanks to them, over 200 patients in the area are going to receive the life-saving benefit of that gift,” added Miller.
Because of Minney’s high hemoglobin count, he was able to make a double red cell donation, which allows donors to donate two units of red blood cells thereby giving more products that are needed most by patients. “I actually prefer doing double reds. It’s because less visits,” explained Minney. 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 Minney said added to his decision to donate. “I like to help out those that are local. Knowing that it’s going to stay in Wisconsin and help somebody that’s close by that’s in an emergency or something like that feels good.”
As an extra incentive, all attempting donors received a unique St. Patrick’s blood donation t-shirt.
Tomah Health marketing and public relations director Eric Prise thanked the Tomah Parks & Recreation Dept. for using the facilities at Recreation Park for the drive. “We are especially thankful to Parks & Recreation director Joe Protz and his staff for hosting all of our drives,” he said.
Prise said the next blood drive will also be held at Recreation Park May 13 & 14.