Prior Lake, Minnesota - As many as 177 lives could be positively impacted due in part to the success of a blood drive held by the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community. The summer blood drive was held Tuesday, August 14, 2007, from noon to 7:00 p.m. in the lobby of Dakotah! Sport and Fitness in Prior Lake.

Each of the 59 units collected can be divided into plasma, red blood cells, and platelets, thus saving up to three lives. Ten first time donors participated in the event, and there were 33 walk-ins.

"We are delighted at the response we get each time we hold a blood drive," said SMSC Health Administrator James Lien.

The 53 SMSC donors were willing to give time out of their schedules to help save lives by giving blood. Donors were members of the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community, tribal government and enterprise staff, South Metro Federal Credit Union staff, Gaming Enterprise Team Members, Dakotah! Sport and Fitness members, and the general public. (Forty-seven donors gave one unit each; six donors gave two units each using the ALYX machine.)

Because life is so precious to us all, the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community, as an active participant in the local community, holds several blood drives each year to help save lives. The SMSC has sponsored blood drives for more than 19 years.

More than 90% of Americans will require a blood transfusion for themselves or an immediate family member sometime in their life. Since blood is perishable and cannot be synthetically created, new donations are needed daily. All blood types are needed throughout the year, especially those which are less common.

The next blood drive will be Tuesday, December 11, 2007, at Dakotah! Sport and Fitness from noon to 7:00 p.m.

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