Sioux Falls, SD – Local air medical teams are encouraging community members to support our community’s blood supply. Avera Careflight and Sanford AirMed, who witness the life-saving power of blood donations daily, are launching the 5th annual “Flying for Life,” a friendly competition to help replenish critically needed blood in the Sioux Falls community. The event begins Monday, May 12 and runs through Saturday, May 17, giving community members multiple opportunities to donate and literally save lives with just 30 minutes of their time.
All who donate will receive a specially designed event t-shirt and a Culver’s Value Meal certificate as thank you gifts (while supplies last), and can cast their vote for either flight team, with the winning team receiving a traveling trophy and year-long bragging rights. Donations can be made at Sanford USD Medical Center, Avera McKennan Hospital, or the Dawley Farm Donor Center. Multiple community blood drive events are scheduled throughout the week, offering flexible options for donors.
“We need about 550 donation of blood each week to meet the needs of our community hospital patients,” shares Ken Versteeg, Executive Director of Community Blood Bank. “With Sioux Falls experiencing tremendous population growth, demand for blood has risen nearly 15% over the last years. We need more donors to consider coming forward during the ‘Flying for Life’ event and throughout the upcoming summer months.”
The medical flight crews who transport critically injured patients know better than most how vital blood donations are. “Every day, we see patients whose lives hang in the balance, waiting for blood products that must be available immediately,” explains Donni Van Santen, Supervisor at Avera Careflight. “When someone is severely injured, there’s no time to wait for donations—the blood must already be on the shelves.”
Greg Vandenberg, Manager of Sanford AirMed, adds, “In emergency medicine, we have a saying: ‘Blood doesn’t grow on shelves. Each unit comes from a generous community member who took the time to donate. Right now, our community needs those heroes more than ever.”
“Life is unpredictable, but through regular blood donations, we can provide certainty when emergencies strike,” Versteeg emphasizes. “Just one donation can save up to three lives in our community.”
Donors must be at least 17 years old (16 with signed parental consent), weigh 110 pounds or more, and be in good general health. Eating well and staying hydrated before donating is recommended. Please bring ID when donating.
To schedule your life-saving donation, visit www.cbblifeblood.org, click on “News” and “Flying for Life,” or call Community Blood Bank at 605-331-3222.
Community Blood Bank is an independent, self-sufficient organization that relies entirely on local donors to meet our community’s needs.
