For one day early next month, Pioneer Park in Rhinelander will look like a M.A.S.H. unit. Like a real MASH unit, the intent is to save lives.
A blood collection on that theme will be held July 8 at Pioneer Park from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Collection spokesperson Jerry Shidell says summer is a time of increased need, but blood supplies are lower....
"....this time of the year, the supply for blood is down and the demand for blood is up and ironically it's because we're busy doing things. We're busy doing things so we get hurt. We're busy donating so we don't donate. We need these types of drives to replenish the blood supply and make sure it is always there...."
The event is called the "Hodag MASH" and is sponsored by the Community Blood Center of Appleton, the agency supplying blood to area hospitals. Shidell says this blood drive is different than others...
"....so people get dressed up with their khaki's, they wear dog tags, we have MASH T-shirts that look like fatigues...so it has more of a MASH theme to it than your typical drive where you come in, lay down and give blood. This one has some fun to it..."
Shidell says the goal is to receive what he calls 150 "good units" of blood or blood that is useable. Shidell says pre-registration is advisable, and it can be done at the websitesave3lives.org
