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(Hyannis, January 9, 2018) Due to the extremely cold weather over the last two weeks, there has been a decrease in blood donor turnout to Cape Cod Healthcare blood drives. A blood drive last Thursday was forced to close early, due to the storm, and a blood drive scheduled for Sunday was canceled, due to the extreme cold. There is a constant need for blood and blood products for patients at Cape Cod Hospital and Falmouth Hospital. Blood products must continually be replenished due to their short shelf life. Whole blood has a shelf life of 42 days, and platelets have a shelf life of just five days. All the blood collected at Cape Cod Healthcare Blood Drives stays here on Cape Cod to provide life-giving support to patients who need it during surgery, trauma or for chronic conditions. There are numerous blood drives being held throughout Cape Cod during the month of January. In honor of January as National Blood Donor Month, all those who donate blood at a Cape Cod Healthcare Blood Drive this month will have the opportunity to enter a drawing to win a dinner and overnight stay at Foxwoods Resort Casino in Mashantucket, Connecticut. All donors this month will also receive a complimentary t-shirt. To find a blood drive in your area, please visit www.capecodhealth.org/give-Blood. Cape Cod Healthcare is the leading provider of healthcare services for residents and visitors of Cape Cod. With more than 450 physicians, 5,300 employees and 790 volunteers, Cape Cod Healthcare has two acute care hospitals, the Cape’s leading provider of homecare and hospice services (VNA), a skilled nursing and rehabilitation facility, an assisted living facility, and numerous health programs. For more information, visit Cape Cod Healthcare’s web site at www.capecodhealth.org. Cape Cod Healthcare. Visit our health news site www.capecodhealthnews.com for the latest in relevant and credible healthcare news.