Blood donor program in need of donations

The blood donor program is not accepting walk ins, but you can make an appointment the day of if you're interested.

Bonding bill to get passed since january.

/// new for you on daybreak.

Mayo clinic's blood donor program recently wrapped up the "battle of the badges" campaign.

Just because it's over, doesn't mean blood donations should end too.

Kimt news 3's madelyne watkins checked in with the center to see how the blood supply is and what they're in need of right now.

She joins us live now.

Good morning, brooke and tyler.

The need for blood donors is more crucial now than ever before.

And i'm learning that's because a few different reasons.

As you just mentioned... "battle of the badges" is over, but the need for blood isn't.

Law enforcement won the friendly competition by only 9 donations.

Overall, the campaign brought in 408 donations... which is a little more than years in the past.

Donations of blood is extra critical as the pandemic continues.

Not because covid?

"*19 patients receive blood, but because donors aren't coming in due to concerns.

Another reason is a few months ago, mayo clinic paused procedures that weren't critical.

Now they're starting to operate more and the need for blood is now greater again.

The recruitment and marketing coordinator at the blood donor program, kim schmidt, tells me types a and o are the most common types of blood, so they will always be in need of it.

But she says at the end of the day, it doesn't matter what type you have... just as long as "blood product is needed.

It cannot be manufactured.

It truly is the gift of someone rolling up their arm and saying, 'i want to donate.

I want to save a life.'

So we're grateful for that.

We need our blood donors.

The need is constant, regardless of the blood type.

We need all types and all times we say."

The blood donor program isn't taking walk ins right now so you have to make an appointment.

But they can be made the day of!

The center is located in the hilton building in downtown rochester and you can park right here in parking lot number 6.

Live in rochester.

Madelyne watkins kimt thank you, madelyne.

It's important to note a common misconception is if you've had covid?

"*19, then you can't donate.

We're learning it's actually the opposite because you have the potential to donate convalescent plasma, which has been