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(Hyannis, March 22, 2018) Due to the inclement weather over the past few weeks, there has been a drop in blood donations to Cape Cod Healthcare blood drives. Some drives were canceled and others saw low turnout due to the weather conditions. 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 next week and in April. A few upcoming drives include: • March 26: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Cape Cod Five Cents Savings Bank, 75 Brackett Road, North Eastham • March 27: 12 noon to 5 p.m., Chatham Community Blood Drive, Chatham Community Center, 702 Main Street, Chatham • March 28: 10 am. to 3:30 p.m., Falmouth Hospital, 100 Ter Heun Drive, Falmouth • March 30: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Market Basket, 1 Factory Outlet Way, Sagamore • April 3: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Barnstable Police Department, 1200 Phinneys Lane, Hyannis • April 4: 12 noon to 6 p.m., Bass River Rod and Gun Club, Route 6A, Yarmouthport • April 5: 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Shepley Showcase, 75 Ben Franklin Way, Hyannis For a full list of blood drives and to learn more about how you can donate blood or sponsor a blood drive, please visit www.capecodhealth.org/give-Blood. In addition, the Blood Center at Cape Cod Hospital is open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. for walk-in blood donations. 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.