41NBC Memorial Day Blood Drive begins across Middle Georgia
Middle Georgians are rolling up their sleeves to save lives. The 41NBC Memorial Day Blood Drive is underway with support from longtime donors and the Red Cross.
MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – A life-saving tradition continued Monday as the 13th annual 41NBC Memorial Day Blood Drive started across Middle Georgia.
According to the American Red Cross, someone in the U.S. requires blood every two seconds.
“That’s what we’re all trying to do, help one another so everyone can live their best life,” long-time blood donor Lacondra Nesbitt said.
Patients of all ages are in constant need of blood, whether they are recovering from car accidents, heart surgeries, organ transplants or battling cancer.
Nesbitt has been donating blood for nearly 40 years after initially donating blood as a way to earn extra credit in college. She knew she had to continue following the loss of her brother in 2015 due to complications from diabetes and heart disease.
“Knowing that there was any given time that he may need blood made me want to continue to donate,” she said.
Nesbitt’s aunt passed away in 2018 after a long battle with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
“During her illness, she needed blood regularly, so I was adamant about donating,” she said.
For those hesitant about donating, Lacondra says just take the first step!
Potential donors visiting the drive over the next four days will be greeted by a Blood Ambassador, guiding them through the process. Suzanne Lawler, the American Red Cross Regional Communications Manager, says the donation process is straightforward.
“You’ll go back, they’ll test your iron, your blood pressure, that kind of thing,” she said. “Take a little bit of a health history, and then you sit in the chair. The actual blood donation only takes about 10 minutes.”
Lawler also cleared up some myths about blood donation, reminding everyone you’re never too old to give blood and that you don’t need an insurance card to donate.
To help the process go faster, the Red Cross recommends downloading the free “Blood Donor App,” which allows users to manage their appointments and see where their blood donations are going.
“I had a colleague, and her blood donation actually went three blocks down the road to a hospital where she lives,” she said. “So, it’s another atta boy, another pat on the back to go, ‘Hey, my blood literally went to this hospital, and here’s where I helped to save a life.”
Though donors are not compensated for their contributions, Nesbitt insists the experience is priceless.
“Please go out and donate blood,” she said. “It is something that you can do that is very rewarding, and it will make you feel that you have helped someone and that someone that you help may in fact be yourself later down the line.”
