For Immediate Release:
Did you know that, according to the American Red Cross, every two seconds, someone in the United States requires a blood transfusion? Housatonic Valley Health District’s Medical Reserve Corps (HVMRC) is proud to announce that they are participating in the American Red Cross’ SleevesUp campaign. Through hosting a virtual blood drive, you can pledge to honor a loved one, help others around you through a blood donation, and participate in a community event even from afar. From now until August 1, 2022, HVMRC volunteers, family, friends and community members can pledge to donate blood and find their local blood drive.
Megan McClintock, Medical Reserve Corps Coordinator noted, “HVMRC is excited to take on this virtual blood drive event. It gives our community a chance to find the nearest blood drive and volunteer members a time to promote and show the organization they serve. We hope to utilize this virtual blood drive to segway into in-person drives that HVMRC will host in partnership with the American Red Cross. Partnership with the American Red Cross has been a key part of our MRC history, and we are glad to be renewing that partnership as Housatonic Valley MRC.”
Modern medicine relies heavily on people to donate blood in order to save lives. Some benefits to donating blood include, a mini-free health screening prior to donation, a healthier heart and vascular system as a result of regularly donating blood, and building a sense of community and a sense of purpose by helping someone else.
To learn more about how you can pledge to donate blood in HVMRC’s Virtual Blood Drive, visit https://hvhdct.gov/emergency-preparedness/medical-reserve-corps/.
The Housatonic Valley Health District serves New Milford, Oxford, Southbury, Washington, and Woodbury. The Housatonic Valley Health District’s mission is to create better health outcomes and promote the highest attainable standard of health. It accomplishes this through three principles: prevention, education, and outreach. HVHD prevents disease, injury, and disability for its communities through regular inspections of public and private businesses and homes to ensure conditions exist where people can be healthy. HVHD uses education to inform the public and health practitioners on public health best practices, policy information, and the impacts and methods of prevention for the spread of communicable diseases. HVHD conducts outreach to engage their communities that experience obstacles in accessing the public health services they need, deliver vaccines to the community, and advocate for needed and beneficial health policies.
For more information about the Housatonic Valley Health District, call (203) 264-9616.
