Heartland Blood Centers is in critical need of several blood types

Heartland Blood Centers is in critical need of several blood types to meet the demands of hospitals in northern Illinois and northwest Indiana.

As of Friday morning, officials at Heartland Blood Centers are reporting less than a one-day supply of O+, O-, B+ and B-, with the potential to reach critical levels on all other types.

Patient traumas, surgeries, weather and illness have had a critical impact on patient blood inventory needs.

Amy Smith, director of donor recruitment at Heartland Blood Centers, says, "We have made frequent requests this week to all of our regular donors asking them to help. The situation is now critical and we are in need of all healthy and eligible donors to roll up their sleeves and give blood in the next 48 hours. Critical is not a term we take lightly, the need is real!"

"As the largest provider of blood in the Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana area, we must be sure transfusions are ready and available for patients in the 74 hospitals we serve," Smith said.

Heartland has increased capacity to allow for more flexible scheduling at any of 13 convenient donor centers or mobile blood drives.

All donors will receive a $10 Noodles & Co. coupon, compliments of our premier sponsor Noodles & Co. Call (800) 786-4483, visit www.heartlandbc.org or text APPT to 444-999 to schedule.

Heartland Donor Centers include:

• Aurora, 1200 N. Highland Ave.;

• Bloomingdale, 204 Gary Ave.;

• Crystal Lake, 6296 Northwest Hwy.;

• DeKalb, 2428 Sycamore Road;

• Elgin, 1140 N. McLean Blvd.;

• Geneva, 2000 Route 38;

• Highland, Ind., 2126 45th St.;

• Joliet, 121 Springfield;

• Naperville, 1297 S. Naper Blvd.;

• Tinley Park, 16100 Centennial Circle;

• Westmont, 6317 S. Fairview;

• Winfield, 27W281 Geneva Road;

• Yorkville, 728 Veterans Parkway, Suite 112.

Heartland Blood Centers, established in 1943, is a nonprofit, independent blood center serving the Greater Chicago area and Northwest Indiana. Heartland operates under a volunteer donor system with the goal of collecting more than 160,000 units of blood annually. For more information or to schedule an appointment, visit heartlandbc.org or call (800) 7 TO-GIVE.