"A Scout is Helpful!" - 100 donors for 100 years of service
This is the first characteristic of the scout law. As part of YES (Year of Extreme Service) and to celebrate 100 years of scouting service in the United States, Mayo Clinic Blood Donor Center and The Gamehaven Council of the Boy Scouts of American are offering scouts age 16 and up and all adult leaders the opportunity to help save a life! Every six minutes, someone at the Mayo Clinic receives a transfusion of blood. As each whole blood donation can be divided into three blood products, someone donating a single unit of whole blood can impact the lives of up to three people!
From March 12th through April 12th, we are asking all eligible scouts and leaders to participate in the “A Scout is Helpful. 100 donors for 100 years of service” blood drive. During this month, we would like 100 scouts and leaders to donate at Mayo Clinic Blood Donor Center in the Hilton Building. The kickoff event will be on March 12th from 4:30 PM until 7 PM. We would like scouts and leaders to schedule appointments to donate during this time and show up at their appointment in their class A uniform. Dr. Jeff Winters, a leader from Troop 21, a blood donor, and a physician in the Division of Transfusion Medicine at the Mayo Clinic, will take those boys in uniform on a tour and talk about the importance of blood donation.
For the remainder of the month, when you donate please be sure to sign in on the tally sheet at the front desk so we can track our goal of 100 donors! Help Save a Life!
FAQ
Where and when can I donate blood?
Hilton Building
Monday through Friday 6 AM to 4:30 PM
Extended hours (6 AM until 7 PM) on March 12 and April 9
How do I schedule an appointment?
Call 507-284-4475 during the hours of operation listed above.
Who can donate?
Donors must weigh at least 110 pounds and be at least 17 years old or 16 years old with written parental consent. During your donation appointment, you will complete a brief health questionnaire to make sure blood donation is safe for you and the recipient of your blood.
How long does it take to donate?
Whole blood donation, from check-in to refreshments, takes 45 to 60 minutes.
What should I do before I donate?
Before donating, you should eat a good meal and drink plenty of fluids.
Does donating blood count as a service time toward rank advancement?
Speak with your scoutmaster for approval but this does represent service to your community and should count as one hour of service.
Would donating blood count toward requirement 10 of the Medicine Merit Badge?
Helping with a blood drive should count. This should include recruiting others to donate. Check with your merit badge counselor. For the Medicine Merit Badge being offered on March 14 at the Merit Badge Fair, helping to recruit others to donate and showing up for the kickoff on March 12 will fulfill requirement 10. Speak with Dr. Winters on March 12 if you are taking the Medicine Merit Badge on the 14t.
Where can I find more information about blood donation?
Call 507-284-4475 or visit http://www.mayoclinic.org/donateblood
