The Capitals announced on Wednesday morning that their next blood drive will be held on January 26 from 7AM to 5PM at MedStar Capitals Iceplex.
Fans who donate will receive a t-shirt and a bobblehead of Caps captain Alex Ovechkin.
Those who wish to donate blood must make an appointment by calling 1-866-BLOODSAVES (1-866-256-6372) or by going onto the Inova Blood Donor Services website. There are very few slots left so make sure to make your appointment ASAP!
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The Washington Capitals and Inova Blood Donor Services will host a blood drive on Saturday, Jan. 26, from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Medstar Capitals Iceplex in Arlington, Va. Appointments are required.
Donors at the blood drive on Jan. 26 will receive a bobblehead of Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin as well as a Capitals T-Shirt.
More than 250 units of blood and blood products are needed every day, year-round, for patients in area hospitals. One blood donation can save up to three lives, and there is a continual need for all blood types. There is no substitute for human blood. It only comes from volunteer blood donors. It is used to help trauma patients, surgery patients, newborn babies, cancer patients and transplant patients.
Donors can make an appointment by calling Inova Blood Donor Services at 1-866-BLOODSAVES (1-866-256-6372). All donors are asked to arrive at their scheduled appointment time.
In order to make each donation go further, donors who know their blood type can select a specific donation type of double red cells, platelets and/or plasma based on the current needs of our community. If you have a blood type of O+, O-, A-, or B-, please be open to a donation type of double red cells. If you have a blood type of A+, AB+, AB-, or B+, please be open to a donation of platelets and/or plasma. By choosing a donation method that matches up with your blood type, we can make a maximum impact in the community. If you have questions regarding why one donation type is more beneficial for your blood type, please call 1-866-BLOODSAVES (1-866-256-6372).
To give blood, donors must be feeling generally well on the day of their donation, be at least 16 years old (with parental consent), weigh at least 110 pounds and not have donated blood in the past eight weeks (56 days) for whole blood or not have donated double red cells in the past 16 weeks (112 days). For more information about eligibility requirements call 1-866-BLOODSAVES or visit inova.org/donateblood.
Aspects of each potential donor’s health history are discussed as part of the donation process before any blood is collected. Each donor receives a brief examination during which temperature, blood pressure and hemoglobin (iron level) are measured.
Inova Blood Donor Services is the major supplier of blood products in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area.
A continuing reminder to our many readers who celebrated the Caps’ Stanley Cup win by getting tattooed: There are some regulations regarding new tattoos that may affect your eligibility to donate. For more info on Inova’s donation eligibility, visit their website here.
Headline photo: Elizabeth Kong
