Coker United Methodist Church
Thursday, September 09, 2010
 

Coker Blood Drives

 
The next Blood Drive at Coker will be Sunday, August 15, 2010 from 8 AM to 1 PM in the parking lot.  In order to make the most efficient use of time, we request that you sign up on our online appointment sheet.  Please click here to do so.  All donors in August will be entered for a chance to win one of five $150 gift cards from Academy Sports & Outdoors and receive a thank you gift.  For more information, call Tom Canavera at 421-5916.
 
If you have donated blood at Coker and would be willing to fill out a brief survey to help us plan future blood drives, please click here.
 
Upcoming Blood Drives (all are 8 AM to 1 PM):
  • Sunday, October 10
  • Sunday, December 12
 
Blood Donation Myths and Facts provided by the South Texas Blood and Tissue Center
 
MYTH:  You don't need.  You have plenty of donors.
FACT:  Patients need you!  Only about 5% of the eligible population takes the time to donate blood.  Blood cannot be manufactured in the laboratory.  The only source for this lifesaving resource is volunteer blood donors.  Approximately 32,000 units are used each day in the US.
 
MYTH:  I don't have time to donate blood.
FACT:  Donating blood only takes approximately one hour of your time.  The majority of that time is spent filling out a medical questionnaire and checking vital signs.  The actual donation process takes about 10 minutes.
 
MYTH:  Blood lasts forever.
FACT:  Red blood cells have a shelf life of only 42 days under refrigeration.  Platelets last only 5 days.  Every day the South Texas Blood and Tissue Center must collect 500 units of blood.
 
MYTH:  People with tattoos and piercings cannot be blood donors.
FACT:  Donors who have recently received a tattoo may be accepted, provided the procedure was done at a licensed facility in Texas.  Donors must provide the name of the licensed business and the city in Texas where the business is located.
 
MYTH:  People on blood pressure medication cannot donate blood.
FACT:  Any medication currently being used for treating high blood pressure is acceptable, provided that the donor has been on the medication for at least 30 days.
 
MYTH:  All medications and antibiotics prevent you from donating blood.
FACT:  Taking medication is NOT an automatic denial.  Most are perfectly acceptable.  Since there are many different medications, the easiest thing to do is call the Center to ask.  Anyone who is currently taking antibiotics for an infection will be deferred until 24 hours after the last dose.  Donors unsure of the medication used will be deferred for a 28 day period.
 
MYTH:  Diabetics cannot donate blood.
FACT:  Type II diabetics (non-insulin dependent) are eligible to donate blood provided the diabetes is controlled by diet and/or antidiabetic drugs.  Diabetics taking injectable insulin may donate blood if they are stabilized and have not changed their insulin dosage within 2 weeks of donating. 
 
 

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Times & Directions

  

Our address:
231 E. North Loop Rd.
San Antonio, TX  78216-1896

210-494-3455
FAX: 494-8537