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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 16, 2007
DAYTON, OH — (Friday, February 16, 2007) Community Blood Center (CBC) is asking residents in its 15-county service area to continue donating blood for persons whose lives depend on it. The blood supply is still nearly 600 pints low despite excellent donor turnout following perhaps the worst blood crisis in the 43 year history of the blood center and two emergency appeals for blood since January 1 of this year.
“The reason the blood supply reached the point of crisis is that we have had many recent weather related cancellations of blood drives leading up to this week and had been unable to schedule replacement drives on such short notice,” stated Judith E. Woll, MD, chief executive officer at CBC. “I want to recognize the heroic efforts of our donors these past few days. They are wonderful people and I thank them. But it shouldn’t take a crisis to get people to donate. I hope that this emergency has created a new awareness in our area about the critical need to donate blood. I would also like to thank the medical community for their cooperation and understanding during this past week.”
To help alleviate the blood emergency while waiting for donated blood to be ready for release, CBC obtained 440 units of red cells from other blood centers across the country.
“We were fortunate that some blood centers had enough blood on their shelves to share with us,” said Jodi Minneman, chief operating officer of CBC’s blood services. “Those imports saved patient lives while we waited for the community’s support.”
Over the past three days, CBC collected 1,183 pints of blood which was not immediately available for transfusion due to safety testing and processing.
- There were 344 first time blood donors.
- 635 women and 548 men donated blood.
- University of Dayton and Cedarville University students gave 346 pints. Cedarville is having a blood drive again today.
- Area hospitals generated 265 pints through emergency blood drives.
“I am asking those donors who gave blood for the first time, or for the first time in a long while, to commit to giving blood again in two months,” requested Dr. Woll. “We need people to give blood like their lives depend on it, as one in three of us will likely need blood during our lifetimes. Everyday, patient lives are dependent on a safe and adequate blood supply.”
Usually, Friday’s are the best days for the blood supply and Mondays are the worst. Patients typically use about 200 more pints every weekend than are collected during that same timeframe.
Donors who were not able to give blood this week can donated on Saturday morning as all CBC branch locations in Dayton, Middletown, Springfield, West Chester and Richmond, IN will be open. For more information on branch hours and exact locations, visit: http://www.cbccts.org/donating/centers.htm.
For more information, call 1-800-388-GIVE or visit www.cbccts.org.
Please note: CBC no longer requires donors to provide their social security number when they register to donate. Donors are required to provide a photo ID that includes their full name. Past CBC donors are also asked to bring their CBC donor ID card. Donors must be at least 17 years of age, weigh a minimum of 110 pounds, and be in good physical health. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) changes blood donor eligibility guidelines periodically. Individuals with eligibility questions are invited to email canidonate@cbccts.org or call 1-800-388-GIVE.
Community Blood Center/Community Tissue Services™, an independent, not-for-profit organization, is registered to ISO 9001:2000. Community Blood Center provides blood products to 25 hospitals in the Miami (Ohio) and Whitewater (Indiana) Valleys. For more information about Community Blood Center/Community Tissue Services™, visit www.cbccts.org.
Please call the center nearest you to make an appointment.
Copyright 2005 Community Blood Center
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