One blood donation can impact four lives, but did you know your donation is used in four different ways?

According to Mississippi Valley Regional Blood Center Donor Relations Consultant Chris Ciasto, a donation of blood is used for red cells, platelets, plasma, and one you may not be aware of, “The last product most people have never heard of is made from plasma. It’s called cryoprecipitate, we just call it cryo for short, but it’s used for orthopedic surgeries so shoulder, knee, hip replacement surgeries. It just kind of keeps that surgical field clear so surgeons can see what they’re doing and that product can also be frozen for up to a year.”

Blood can be donated by one person every 56 days, or eight weeks, and Ciasto says six blood donations per year can impact 24 patients. Bethel Mennonite Church in Wayland is having a community blood drive February 6. For details on this and other upcoming area blood drives visit our community calendar page at kciiradio.com.