Anoka County Blood Drives Open to Public

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Anoka County Blood Drives Open to Public

All are welcome and invited to donate blood at Anoka County’s blood drives throughout 2025.

There are several opportunities to give:

·            8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 11 –– Anoka County Highway Department, 1440 Bunker Lake Blvd., Andover. 

·            Noon to 6 p.m. Monday, Feb. 24 –– Rum River Library, 4201 6^th Ave. NW, Anoka. 

·            10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Thursday, March 6 –– Anoka County Government Center, 2100 3^rd Ave, Anoka. 

·             9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday, April 9 –– Blaine Human Service Center, 1201 89^th Ave. NE, Blaine.

·            8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Thursday, April 17 –– Anoka County Highway Department, 1440 Bunker Lake Blvd., Andover.

·            Noon to 6 p.m. Monday, May 5 –– Rum River Library, 4201 6^th Ave. NW, Anoka.

A whole blood donation takes about 8-10 minutes, during which you’ll be seated or lying down. Whole blood is blood that flows through your veins. It contains red cells, white cells, and platelets, suspended in plasma. You can donate whole blood every 56 days, up to six times a year. A whole blood donation is open to all blood types.

During a power red donation, donors give a concentrated dose of red cells. This type of donation uses an automated process that separates your red blood cells from the other blood components, and then returns your plasma and platelets to you. Red cells from a power red donation are typically given to trauma patients, newborns, those needing emergency transfusions during birth, people with sickle cell anemia, and anyone suffering blood loss. Ideal blood types for power red donations are O positive, O negative, A negative, and B negative. Power Red donations take about 30 minutes longer than whole blood donations. Donors can give every 112 days, up to three times a year.

Visit www.redcrossblood.org to schedule an appointment at a blood drive near you.

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