Lower Level, Riverview East Medical Building

The Blood Bank is open for donations every Monday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and every Tuesday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Donations are also collected on the first Wednesday of every month from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. as a service to patrons of the Riverview Family Screening Clinic. Periodic blood drives are held at community locations including area high schools.

Riverview Hospital Community Blood Bank is not affiliated with the American Red Cross.

The Blood Bank is located at Riverview Hospital, 410 Dewey Street, Wisconsin Rapids. Use the Riverview Hospital main entrance, then take the stairs or elevator on the left side of the entrance mall to the lower level of Riverview’s East Medical Building.

Please read the sections below to learn more about our community's need for blood donations and the role of Riverview Hospital Community Blood Bank and you! For more information and to make an appointment to donate blood, please call us: 715/421-7438

16 year old consent form and Parental information sheet

Turning 17?
www.bloodsaves.com

Our Commitment to You

Riverview Hospital Community Blood Bank has relied on local volunteers to provide a safe and adequate blood supply for area patients for over 50 years. We are committed to providing the highest quality blood products at the lower practical cost to the patients we serve.

Meeting the needs of patients at Riverview Hospital is our first and foremost concern. Only with the support of local residents donating blood regularly are we able to provide this lifesaving service.

While other blood centers may collect blood in our community, they do not supply blood or blood products used at Riverview Hospital.

Riverview Hospital Community Blood Bank is part of a network of community- and hospital-based blood centers. After local needs are met, excess blood is made available to other blood centers and hospitals throughout Wisconsin and the nation. Sharing the "Gift of Life" is also a part of our commitment.

Facts About Blood

To donate blood you must be at least 17 years old. A signed parental consent form for 16-year-old donors is required each time the minor donates. You must also weigh at least 110 pounds and be in general good health. Most of the medications you may be taking would not prohibit you from donating blood.

Sometime in their life, 9 out of 10 people will require a blood transfusion.

Each year less than 5 percent of eligible Americans donate over 14 million units of blood to nearly 4 million patients.

Every three seconds someone needs blood. This includes accident and burn victims, surgical and cancer patients and many others with different medical conditions.

Whole blood can be donated every 56 days or 8 weeks. Platelet and plasma apheresis may be donated more often.

We Need Your Help

Our strength lies in the active involvement of individuals who donate blood, plus the support of organizations and communities that sponsor blood drives. Riverview Hospital Community Blood Bank is seeking corporations, churches, schools, civic organizations and other groups in South Wood County and surrounding areas that are willing to play a vital role in providing blood for our local community.

Riverview Hospital Community Blood Bank is an integral part of our community. Our friendly, caring staff is dedicated to quality and service. We are eager to make your visit to the Blood Bank pleasant and enjoyable.

For more information about the Blood Bank, donating blood or sponsoring a blood drive please call us at 715/421-7438.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Why should I donate?

There is no substitute for blood. The human body is the only manufacturer of this precious fluid. All the money or insurance in the world is useless if the right type of blood is not available when needed.

2. How long does the donation take?

The actual donation, which is done by a specially trained medical professional, takes seven to ten minutes. The total process, which includes a short medical history and enjoying refreshments, takes less than one hour.

3. How long will it take to replenish the pint?

Your body replaces the plasma (liquid portion) within 24 hours. Red cells need from four to eight weeks for complete replacement.

4. Can I still donate if I take medication?

Many medications are acceptable. It depends on the type of medication and the condition for which it was prescribed. Contact the Blood Bank staff if you have questions regarding medication or other medical conditions.

5. What tests are performed on my blood?

The blood is tested for ABO and Rh type, and unexpected red blood cell antibodies. Screening tests are performed for hepatitis, HIV (AIDS virus), HTLV and syphilis.

6. Can I get AIDS from donating blood?

Absolutely not. The materials including the needle used for your donation are new, sterile, disposable and used only once by you for your donation.

What Blood Type Are You?