Dos Palos blood drive to aid Fresno firefighter injured on duty

A blood drive to support Fresno fire Capt. Peter Dern, who was injured while battling a residential blaze, will take place Wednesday.

The blood drive will be at the city fire station in Dos Palos, 1546 Golden Gate Avenue. The drive will be from 2 to 6 p.m.

Dern, a 25-year Fresno Fire Department veteran, was severely burned over 65 percent of his body when he fell through the roof of a burning building. Doctors have performed many surgeries since March, but say Dern will need more surgeries requiring blood to help during his long road to recovery.

“The Central California Blood Center has received hundreds of calls and emails from Valley residents and many outside the area who want to help,” said Dean Eller, president and CEO of the blood center, in a news release.

“We are blessed to have such generous community partners like the Dos Palos Fire Department. We need all blood types, especially O-negative blood, which is the universal blood type used in emergency rooms.”

The drive will also serve other patients in Valley hospital who need blood and blood products.

Blood donation takes less than one hour to complete. Donors must be in good general health, weigh a minimum of 110 pounds and be at least 17 years old or 16 years old with written parental consent.

Donors should eat a good meal and drink plenty of water within four hours prior to their donation. Donors can give blood every eight weeks. Photo identification and Social Security number are required at donor registration.

For more information about the drive, call (559) 389-5433 (ext. 5448).

This story was originally published July 26, 2015 at 12:56 PM with the headline "Dos Palos blood drive to aid Fresno firefighter injured on duty."