11 Cares: Vitalant teams up with Pens for blood drive at PPG Paints Arena

PITTSBURGH — 11 Cares partner Vitalant teamed up with the Pittsburgh Penguins for a blood drive.

The blood drive was held on Friday Feb, 1 at the Verizon Gate at PPG Paints Arena.

Donors received a Penguins bobblehead, and were entered for a chance to win breakfast in the team locker room.

Each year, nearly 5 million Americans need blood transfusions, according to Vitalant.  Blood helps trauma and burn patients, premature infants, heart surgery patients, organ transplant recipients and those fighting cancer, among others. In emergencies, it’s the blood already on hospital shelves that saves lives.

For those who plan to donate, Vitalant recommends eating a healthy, low fat meal within two hours ahead of a donation. The day before, eat a salty snack. When a person donates blood, he or she loses about a gram of salt. Replacing it ahead of time helps keep a person’s blood pressure normal.  It’s also recommended that people hydrate by drinking 8 to 16 ounces of non-caffeinated, non-alcoholic beverages one hour before donating. Water is a great choice.

Cox Media Group