Blood centers across Texas are pleading with the rest of the country for help. As they reel from the aftermath of recent storms, many centers don’t have the needed blood and blood products for their hospitals.
Versiti Blood Centers is hoping some of that help can come from Northwest Indiana and invites the public to blood drives scheduled from 7AM to 1PM on Tuesday, March 16 and 1 to 7PM on Wednesday, March 17 at Franciscan Health Michigan City.
“It is a truly difficult situation for our counterparts down south,” said Dr. Dan Waxman, vice president of transfusion medicine and senior medical director at Versiti. “The critical need for blood and platelets continues across Texas, which is why we’re urgently calling on our donors to help us help Texas.”
O-negative and O-positive donors are most needed now. O-negative and O-positive blood is the universal blood type, meaning donations can be transfused to all patients, including trauma victims, cancer patients and those undergoing surgeries.
The blood drive will be held on Versiti’s Mobile Blood Bus outside the entrance of Franciscan Health Michigan City, 3500 Franciscan Way. Donors must bring identification, wear a mask and have their temperature taken. All Versiti donation locations are practicing social distancing and closely adhering to CDC recommendations and cleaning protocols.
Those who have received the COVID-19 vaccine should wait 48 hours after their shot before donating. Appointments are encouraged and can be scheduled by going online at versiti.org/IL or by calling 1-800-7TO-Give (1-800-786-4483) and choosing your preferred time. Walk-ins are also welcome as the schedule and social distancing allow.
Versiti Blood Center is the primary blood provider to Franciscan Health. Along with helping those in Texas, donations go to more than 70 hospitals in Indiana and Illinois.
