Firefighter Bob Parker Blood Drive returns in 2015
On Monday, May 4, the North Liberty Fire Department is hosting the Firefighter Bob Parker Blood Drive at the station.
Bob Parker has been a member of the North Liberty Fire Department since 1971, but his ability to respond to calls to assist his community was reduced on March 7, 2012 when he was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia. The blood drive named in his honor was first offered in 2013 to replenish the 60 units of blood Bob used during his recovery. Since that first drive, 87 units of blood have been collected, just one unit shy of 11 gallons. This is a fraction of the 450 units of blood products used each week at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. To help combat this need, in 2014 the UI DeGowin Blood Center reinstated their Purple Top program to identify individuals with high platelet counts and encourage them to donate.
The NLFD is now inviting the community and fellow firefighters and first responders to join us in supporting Bob in his efforts to continue to give to the community by giving a little of themselves, just one pint.
To register for the blood drive, contact Firefighter Rob DuBay at [email protected] or follow the directions below. Walk-in appointments will be accommodated as staffing allows.
Donors can register online following these steps:
- Go to http://www.uihealthcare.org/otherservices.aspx?id=240919
- Click on the “Book Now” button
- Select “North Liberty Fire Department – Fire Station” from the drop down list on the left
- Click on May 4 on the calendar
- Find the time you’d like to donate and click on the “Book It” button
- Fill in the required information and click “Finalize Appointment” at the bottom of the screen
To be eligible to donate, persons must be at least 17 years old (or 16 with parental consent), weigh at least 110 pounds, be cold or flu symptom free for five days, pass a mini-physical and medical history inquiry, have a photo ID, know their Social Security number or Driver’s License number, drink fluids and have a meal prior to donation, bring a list of current medications and bring a list of places visited outside the U.S. within the last three years.
