VASNHS invites the community to participate in their Blood Drive
Here in the Las Vegas valley, we have seen Veterans and others stepping up in extraordinary ways to support their neighbors. Las Vegas VA Medical center partners with Vitalant to host a blood drive on January 20, from 11:30 to 5:00 at the VA hospital.
VA Southern Nevada Healthcare System is partnering with Vitalant to host a blood drive on January 20, from 11:30 to 5:00 at the at the North Las Vegas VA Medical Center. Nationwide, blood supplies are at critical levels, especially for rare blood types and universal donors like O positive and negative as well as AB plasma. However, all eligible donors of all blood types are urged to donate.
“As leaders in the Las Vegas health care community, we have an obligation to step forward to offer this support for the greater good, ” said Leanne Beasley, VASNHS Blood Drive Coordinator. “It also helps ensure that we are better able to support Veterans and the community who may need blood or blood products in the near term.”
VA employees, Veterans, and patients are encouraged to bring their spouses, family members and others to participate. “I do bring quite a few people from my community over to our blood drives and the number of them are veterans, but not all of them”, said Beasley. “A number of them are older, in their 70s and 80s, and they're there is no upper age limit to donate”.
Vitalant supplies blood to Nellis Air Force Base, University Medical Center Southern Nevada and others in need. “This blood drive is not just for veterans, it's to support the whole Las Vegas valley,” said Beasley. “I can't be guaranteed that the blood that's donated is the blood we're going to get, but it helps guarantee that the blood we need will be available”, VA recognizes its role providing health care, benefits and cemetery services to our nation’s Veterans. VA has a “fourth mission” to back-up our nation’s private and public hospitals in times of crisis. “Here in the Las Vegas valley, we have seen Veterans stepping up in extraordinary ways to support their neighbors, and this event is a great opportunity for the community to come together to meet this challenge,” said Beasley. “They're used to doing things for the good of the people.”
Additionally, the FDA lifted the restrictive deferrals for travelling and living in the U.K., Germany, and other place in Europe. This will allow many people who were previously ineligible to donate now able to donate.
“We look forward to having your roll up your sleeve with VA employees and America’s Veterans to fight the country’s blood shortage,” said Beasley. “Together, we can make a difference.”
To learn more about how to donate blood visit the Veterans Health Library.