CARIBOU, Maine — A large crowd assembled at the Caribou Inn and Convention Center Monday to donate blood in an effort to combat an emergency shortage.
Cary Medical Center Blood Drive Coordinator Kristi Herron says that, while there is usually a shortage during the winter months, the Red Cross is in a ‘critical zone’ due to blood given to the victims of a southern Maine fire.
While this particular situation is critical, Herron says there is a constant need for blood.
“For every donor that comes, three lives are saved,” said Herron. “If you do what we call double reds, then six lives are saved.”
Double red donations are similar to conventional donation, except a machine extracts twice the normal amount of red blood cells and compensates by reinjecting the donor’s plasma and platelets.
“The community really comes out to these blood drives,” said Herron. “We want to say thank you to all the people who do come out and donate. It makes a tremendous difference.”
According to Herron, every donation event has sponsored supplies. For the Feb. 15, 2016 drive, Tim Hortons supplied coffee and Cary Medical supplied chicken stew for donors.
Herron has been coordinating blood drives in the area for over 20 years, and truly enjoys the opportunity to help those in need.
“I’m a real people-oriented person,” said Herron. “I love this, and I’m going to be doing this until the day I die. Each donor is very special to me and I hold a special place in my heart for every donor that comes in. We have people all around The County come to these drives.”
The next blood drive is set for June 13, 2016 from noon to 6 p.m. at the Caribou Inn and Convention Center. Many who donated on Feb. 15 have already made appointments for this drive.
Herron urges anyone with questions or who wishes to set up an appointment to contact her at 498-6516. She says she is “more than willing to discuss the blood drives with anyone,” and prides herself on establishing a rapport with every volunteer.
“I create a special bond with each donor,” said Herron. “I’ve done this for a long time now and I’ve made it my special mission to know each person I work with by name. If you remember them by their first name when they come in, they’ll never forget that.”
