HB Construction's Annual Summer Blood Drive Brings in Critical Donations

Collecting nearly two dozen units of blood in just over four hours, HB Construction’s annual blood drive brought in more than 20 donors, Wednesday, July 25, from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. at HB Construction’s Headquarters, whose donations will impact the lives of up to 69 people.

"It’s amazing to see just how many of our subcontractors and business partners came out to donate," said Project Coordinator Melora Lager, who also serves as company’s blood drive coordinator. "We had a good turn-out and I think it truly shows the strong sense of community here in the construction industry."

Over the course of about four hours, the blood drive collected a total of 23 units of blood, approximately six percent of the 360 units of blood United Blood Services provides for the region’s 44 hospitals every day.

The blood drive was held in an effort to help offset the decline in blood donations during the summer months, a decline often attributed to various summer activities and family vacations.

According to the American Red Cross, the national blood supply is at its lowest level in 15 years, due in part to severe weather and slow summer donations, and a recent article in USA Today said the blood shortage could lead to canceling some surgeries, and Richard Benjamin, the Red Cross’s chief medical officer, told the paper: "We need to do everything we can to make sure it doesn’t get to that point."

HB Construction’s next blood drive is expected to be held in February of 2013.