Otte-Coleman - City Magazine

| CITY MAGAZINE & KFYR
Salutes
United Blood Services
As you make
your plans
for the
holidays,
put this on your list:
save a life. That’s
precisely what you
may be doing if you
devote an hour of
your time to give
blood at Bismarck’s
United Blood Services
(UBS) on South 7th
Street.
The need is great.
One out of every 10
people entering a
hospital, including the
emergency room, needs
blood. Sadly, in our area,
a meager five percent of the population supplies
100 percent of the blood needs, according to
Stephanie Radenz, donor recruitment manager.
Bismarck’s UBS facility is part of a nonprofit
corporation, headquartered in Scottsdale,
Ariz., that provides blood, blood components
and special services to patients in more than
500 hospitals in 18 states.
If you’re 16 years old, or older, at least 110
pounds and are in good health, you can donate
blood every 56 days. In N.D., 16 and 17-yearold
donors need a permission slip signed by a
parent or guardian.
By Tom Regan
United Blood Services Center, Bismarck.
The donation process begins with a brief
interview about your medical history and
current health. Next, your temperature, blood
pressure, pulse and blood hemoglobin level are
checked.
“Many donors view this ‘mini-physical’ as
an added bonus for donating,” says Radenz.
Once it’s been determined that it is safe for
you to give blood, you will begin the actual
donation process, which lasts about seven to
ten minutes for a whole blood donation. After
the donation, you’re asked to sit back, relax and
enjoy some snacks before you are sent on your
way. The entire process takes about 45 minutes
to one hour from start to finish.
10 thecitymag.com