Blood donations collected by LifeServe critical to patient care in Avera St. Mary’s region

The 19^th annual Tyler Wilcox Memorial Guns n’ Hoses Blood Drive is next week (Nov. 30-Dec. 2) in Fort Pierre and Pierre.

In January 2022, LifeServe Blood Center replaced Vitalant as the only supplier of blood and blood products for all of Avera’s hospitals in South Dakota– including the ones in Gettysburg, Miller and Pierre.

LifeServe Blood Center Territory Representative Abbie Arneson says LifeServe’s name recognition is growing throughout the region.

Lab Director for the Avera St. Mary’s Region Kristin Hawkinson says the blood and blood products LifeServe collects are a vital part of treatment for some injuries and a variety of illnesses.

Hawkinson says one tragedy can use up their entire blood supply.

To schedule an appointment for next week’s Tyler Wilcox Memorial Guns n’ Hoses Blood Drive, go to www.lifeservebloodcenter.org or call 605-626-1620.

Blood donors who would like to transfer their lifetime blood donation records from other blood collection entities to LifeServe, may do so by going to lifeserve.info/transfer.