The Brownsville Rotary Club in partnership with Vitalant, will be hosting blood and convalescent plasma drives throughout the month of September.
The blood and plasma drives will be held in the Brownsville Event Center.
Director of Community and Public Relations at Valley Regional Medical Center, Mariana Tumlinson said the coronavirus does not stop the need for blood.
“We need blood every day, and we are usually in short supply anyways,” Tumlinson said. “So, when [COVID-19] hit, we started seeing less people donate blood.”
According to an email sent to Vaquero Radio, the use of convalescent plasma is another way of treating COVID-19 patients.
Tumlinson said in their first blood drives, on Aug. 11 and 12, they received blood donations from 50 individuals.
According to a Vitalant flyer, the convalescent plasma and blood drives will be held from 1 to 7 p.m. Tuesday and Sept. 14, 15, 24 and 30.
Treasurer for the Brownsville Rotary Club, Lizandro Garcia said these drives are a combination of joined efforts.
“So, right now it’s a joint effort with multiples agencies,” Garcia said. “I mean, it’s Vitalant, our club, the Rotary Club Brownsville Sunrise, the two Hospitals, Valley Regional, and Valley Baptist, the City of Brownsville.”
According to the Vitalant flyer, other agencies involved include the City of Brownsville Public Health Department, DHR Health and DHR Health Institute for Research and Development.
Garcia said Vitalant brings the logistics and manpower, while the Brownsville Rotary Club focuses on community outreach.
He wants to let the campus community know that donating is about saving local lives.
“You are literally saving local lives. Not around the U.S., no, no, local to the RGV life by just giving an hour at most of your time,” Garcia said.
Garcia said any blood or plasma donations that are collected, will stay and be used in the Valley.
Tumlinson said although they are still asking for convalescent plasma, Vitalant continues to welcome any blood and plasma donors in these drives.
The flyer states the mandatory use of face masks, social distancing and other strict sanitation procedures will be implemented.
For more information or to make an appointment, call (956) 213-7500 or visit vitalant.org.
THIS IS VICTOR RIVERO FOR VAQUERO NEWS.
