Blood donation center to open in Arnold

A blood-donation center is expected to open this fall in Arnold.

ImpactLife spokesman Kirby Winn said the nonprofit agency, which sells donated blood to hospitals, plans to open a location at 1726 Missouri State Road in October.

“I don’t have a hard date, but things are moving along in terms of permits, plans and working with contractors, and we expect to open in October,” he said.

ImpactLife was called Mississippi Valley Regional Blood Center when it was founded in 1974 in Davenport, Iowa. The company has grown to establish numerous blood distribution hubs and donor centers in Iowa, Illinois, Missouri and Wisconsin, according to its website.

ImpactLife collects blood donations at its centers and during mobile blood drives throughout the year. The blood is sold to more than 120 hospitals throughout Iowa, Illinois, Missouri and Wisconsin, according to the organization’s website.

The Arnold donation center will be its fourth location in the greater St. Louis area. It already has locations in Crestwood, St. Peters and Fairview Heights, Ill.

ImpactLife also has a distribution center in Earth City.

Winn said the company chose to open a permanent donation center in Arnold because of the success it has had during mobile blood drives in the city and throughout Jefferson and south St. Louis counties.

“We don’t want to open a facility where there is not a local donor base to be the starting point for appointments,” he said. “To draw new people into a blood-donation center is challenging, and you have to know there is a strong foothold.”

Winn said participation in blood drives ImpactLife held in July in conjunction with KSHE 95 (95.5 FM) and in December at the Fox C-6 Service Center in Arnold helped solidify the decision to open an Arnold donation center.

He said more than 250 people donated blood during the KSHE-sponsored blood drive.

“We can see the level of support we have in the region is sufficient,” Winn said. “We want to be there with our doors open every week of the year and not just for big events. We will continue to do the mobile blood drives, but we will also have a location for when people want to give blood between blood drives.”

Winn said ImpactLife has not set operating hours for the Arnold location yet, adding that hours differ at the company’s 22 locations based on donor appointments.

“We may not be open every day. That is fairly common for a new donor center location where we are building a clientele,” he said. “We will increase the hours of operation when we see the performance from a collection standpoint.”

Winn said those who want to donate blood are not required to make an appointment, but it is strongly encouraged. Appointments may be made through the ImpactLife website, bloodcenter.org.

“That helps us with our donor flow,” Winn said. “If everyone came in to wait in line, you would have periods when everyone is waiting and other times when it is slow or no one is there. When there is an appointment schedule, there is a steady flow. We don’t want people to wait for an hour and then give blood.”

Winn said a donation center is set up similarly to a hair salon or barber shop.

“Only when you get a haircut you don’t lie back,” he said. “You have a station with a collection specialist like you have a station with a hairstylist or barber.”

Winn said before people go to a donation station, they go through a private screening process to make sure they are eligible to give blood. He also said donors are asked to remain at the center for about 10 minutes after giving blood to make sure they have no negative effects.

“There is the post-donation refreshments of snacks and something to drink. We want donors to stay with us for 10 minutes or so after a donation to make sure they feel good before they go about their day,” he said.

ImpactLife offers incentives for donations. Most donors will receive a $25 gift card to a retail business or restaurants of their choice, and they collect bonus points for donations.

The points may be redeemed at ImpactLife’s online store for baseball hats, T-shirts, water bottles and other items.

“Gift cards and donor loyalty points are a way to thank donors,” Winn said. “Each time they give, they earn points. We have double and triple point days when there is a great need to increase our schedules.”