Every blood donor is a hero
Focusing on the idea that every one of us can become a hero by giving blood 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 health care across the globe.”
With the 2012 theme “every blood donor is a hero,” 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 92 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.”
“Volunteer blood donors who give on a regular basis are the silent and unsung heroes who help save lives every day through their blood donations,” 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 now through June 30 and be entered into a region-wide monthly drawing for a $500 gasoline gift card.
UPCOMING AMERICAN RED CROSS BLOOD DRIVES IN YOUR AREA:
- Monday, June 18, from 2 p.m. until 6 p.m. at Valparaiso Nazarene Church in the gymnasium, located at 2701 Glendale Ave. in Valparaiso.
- Tuesday, June 19, from 3 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 19 from 2 p.m. until 6 p.m. at Family Video, located at 2502 Calumet Ave. in Valparaiso. Please call 464-4142 to schedule your blood donation appointment.
- Friday, June 22, 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.
- Monday, June 25, from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m. at St. Peter Lutheran Church in the Kitchen & Social Hall, located at 6540 Central Ave. in Portage.
- Tuesday, June 26, from 2 p.m. until 7 p.m. at the United Methodist Church in the Fellowship Hall, located at 202 W. Church St. in Hebron.
- Wednesday, June 27, from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. at Ivy Tech Community College, located at 3100 Ivy Tech Dr. in Valparaiso. Come to donate and be entered into a drawing for a $25 shopping spree.
- Wednesday, June 27, from 2 p.m. until 6 p.m. at Horizon Gymnastics Center, located at 1254 Horse Prairie in Valparaiso.
- Friday, June 29, from 2 p.m. until 7 p.m. at First United Methodist Church of Portage in the Fellowship Hall, located at 2637 McCool Road in Portage.
- Friday, June 29, from 11:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. at the YMCA of Portage, located at 3100 Willowcreek Road in Portage. Please email egonzalez@comhs.org to schedule your blood donation appointment.
- Saturday, June 30, from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. at Walmart, located at 3400 E. Morthland Dr. in Valparaiso.
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 Indiana and Ohio), 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 60 hospitals. The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies more than 40 percent of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or join our blog at http://blog.redcross.org.
