Volunteer donors key to meeting universal need for blood
Strengthening the base of volunteer blood donors who help ensure a stable blood supply across the globe will be the focus of World Blood Donor Day on June 14.
“The need for blood is universal, just like air or water,” said Sharyn Whitman, CEO for the Indiana-Ohio Blood Services Region of the American Red Cross. “World Blood Donor Day provides the chance for all of us to recognize that blood is essential to healthcare across the globe.”
With the 2011 theme “more blood, more life,” organizers of World Blood Donor Day are working to boost the number of people on every continent who give blood on a regular basis. Worldwide, about 90 million blood donations are made each year. But according to the World Health Organization, more than 70 countries have blood donation rates that are considered less than necessary to meet basic blood needs. In the United States, about 38 percent of the population is eligible to give blood, but only a fraction actually donates.
“Every two seconds, someone in the U.S. needs blood,” said Whitman. “Patients with emergency and ongoing medical needs depend on blood from volunteer donors to help save their lives.”
World Blood Donor Day began in June 1995, and calls on countries to achieve a blood supply that’s built entirely by voluntary, unpaid donors by the year 2020. Today, organizers cite 62 countries with blood transfusion services based entirely on voluntary blood donations—up from 39 in 2002.The Red Cross only accepts blood from volunteer blood donors, and collects about 6.3 million pints of blood a year.
“Volunteer blood donors who give on a regular basis are the foundation of a safe and adequate blood supply,” said Whitman. “In a world that’s getting more complex every day, it’s nice to know the simple act of giving blood can make a huge difference.”
Come to donate June 1 through September 11 and be entered into a region-wide drawing to win Free Gas for a Year ($3000 gift card)!
UPCOMING AMERICAN RED CROSS BLOOD DRIVES IN YOUR AREA:
- Thursday, June 16, from 2 p.m. until 6:30 p.m. at Horizon Gymnastics Center, located at 1254 Horse Prairie Ave. in Valparaiso.
- Friday, June 17, from 4 p.m. until 8 p.m. at the South Haven Fire Department, located at 398 West 700 North in Valparaiso.
- Wednesday, June 22, from 8 a.m. until noon at Task Force Tips, located at 3701 Innovation Way in Valparaiso.
- Friday, June 24, from 2:30 p.m. until 6:30 p.m. at Our Lady of Sorrows in Franciscan Hall, located at 356 West 700 North in Valparaiso.
- Friday, June 24, from 11:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. at the YMCA of Portage, located at 3100 Willowcreek Road in Portage. Come to donate and receive a Vans Warped Tour VIP pass. When used with a purchased ticket, the VIP pass allows special access to meet and greet with select bands. Also, be entered into a region-wide drawing for a "Warped Tour Experience" which includes two free tickets to the July concert at Verizon Wireless Music Center in Noblesville and meet and greet with select bands.
- Saturday, June 25, from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. at Best Buy, located at 91 Silhavy in Valparaiso. This is a Best Buy Cross-town blood drive challenge.
- Sunday, June 26, from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. at the Nativity of our Savior, located at 2949 Willowcreek Road in Portage. This is a Fallen Officer blood drive. Please call 762-4858 to schedule your blood donation appointment.
- Tuesday, June 28, from 2 p.m. until 7 p.m. at the Izaak Walton League in the Dining Hall, located at 1250 Crisman Road in Portage. Please call 219-762-9974 to schedule your blood donation appointment.
- Tuesday, June 28, from 2:30 p.m. until 6:30 p.m. at Faith Memorial Lutheran Church, located at 753 N. Calumet in Valparaiso.
- Thursday, June 30, from 2 p.m. until 7 p.m. at St. Mary’s Church in the Fellowship Hall, located at 402 E. Indiana Ave. in Kouts.
- Thursday, June 30, from noon until 6 p.m. at St. Paul Lutheran Church in the Meeting Hall, located at 106 East 1100 North in Chesterton.
How to Donate Blood
To schedule an appointment to donate please call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or visit redcrossblood.org for more information. Individuals who are 17 years of age (16 with parental permission in some states), meet weight and height requirements (110 pounds or more, depending on their height) and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. Please bring your Red Cross blood donor card or other form of positive ID when you come to donate.
About the American Red Cross
The Indiana-Ohio Blood Services Region serves northern and central Indiana and northwestern Ohio, and needs to collect about 500 units of blood a day to meet patient need in more than 60 hospitals. In addition to providing blood to our community, the American Red Cross also provides relief to victims of disaster, trains millions in lifesaving skills, serves as a communication link between U.S. military members and their families, and assists victims of international disasters or conflicts