COLLIER COUNTY, Fla. — Naples Community Hospital (NCH) is asking community members to consider donating platelets and blood (specifically types A and O) as its blood banks are critically low.
“We are encouraging everyone this holiday season to give the greatest gift of all, life, said Laura Rosen with NCH’s Community Blood Center, located near the NCH Immokalee Road Campus.
The healthcare system said that oftentimes blood donations stall during the holidays, and many schedule surgeries following December.
“I am a very fortunate guy. I haven’t had any medical issues. Obviously, I know people have them every day,” Walt Evans, a Naples resident who donated Friday, said. “This is my way of contributing and trying to help others.”
Blood donations, on average, take about 45 minutes, and the amount of blood collected from one donation is enough to save three lives, according to NCH.
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“We don’t have blood components for cancer patients. Specifically platelets. Surgical patients, accident victims that means procedures have to be canceled,” Rosen added.
For those interested in donating blood or platelets, the NCH Community Blood Center is open.
All donations given will be put directly into the healthcare system.
“There’s no middleman here. You go directly to the folks who utilize the blood,” Evans said.
Drop-ins are available on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays.