Hamptons Fire Department Rallying The Community For Upcoming Blood Drive

“United We Stand….United We Donate” will be the mantra at the Hampton Road Fire House in Southampton on Tuesday, January 26th, when the Southampton Fire Department holds a Blood Drive at their headquarters. From 12 to 7 p.m., the Fire Department is inviting the East End community to stop by and help save multiple lives by taking part in a painless, vital act that only takes about 10 minutes (giving blood).

Each day, across the United States, 40,000 pints of blood are transfused to save the lives of trauma, accident, and burn victims, cancer patients, newborn babies, mothers delivering babies, transplant patients, surgery patients and others in need, according to the New York Blood Center. And, many of today’s advanced medical care, from organ transplants to heart surgeries, wouldn’t be possible without blood transfusions. But, blood products are perishable; donated red cells last just 42 days, while platelets only survive 5 days, and plasma can be frozen for a year, which means there’s always a need for donors. When you donate just one unit of blood, it can be split into individual components, meaning by giving back, your contribution helps save the life of several people.

Not only can attendees feel satisfied about doing something good for those in need, but the deed also offers health benefits for those donating, as they will receive a pre-donation mini physical, where they will have their pulse, blood pressure, body temperature and hemoglobin checked to make sure that it’s safe for them to give blood. The American Red Cross recommends that donors have a light meal and plenty to drink prior to giving blood.

Good Samaritans will be treated to complimentary hot chowder, courtesy of Schmidt’s Market. To give blood, you must provide identification.

The Hampton Road Fire House is located at the intersection of Hampton Road and Narrow Lane in Southampton. For more information, contact Jim Frankenbach at 631-283-2431.