NEW ORLEANS -- Doctors and nurses from The Blood Center hosted a blood drive at Marine Forces Reserve Headquarters, April 26-27.
Octavia Azuaje, a Blood Center supervisor, said they come to MarForRes because there’s usually a good turnout of donors. This time they met their goal of getting at least 40 people to donate per day."
"If it ever came down to me needing blood, I would hope somebody donated for me,” said Cpl. Heriberto Maldonado, disperser in the MarForRes finance section.
Azuaje said her organization has to gather 350 units of blood a day and hosting the blood drive at MarForRes helps to maintain their supply.
After the blood is donated, it goes to quality control for testing. Then it goes on to hospitals across the Gulf Coast. One donor can potentially save three lives.
“We come here at least three to four times a year,” Azuaje said. “A donor can donate once every two months, so that gives the donors time to be ready before we do it again.”
Doctors and nurses from The Blood Center are scheduled to come again toward the end of June.