Good Shepherd Hospital to host blood drive

Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital and LifeSource will host a blood drive to celebrate World Blood Donor Day from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday, June 27, in the Lakeview Room at Good Shepherd, 450 W. Route 22, Barrington.

Donating blood is a simple process consisting of registration, a medical interview, a mini-physical, the donation itself and refreshments. The process takes approximately one hour. Strict procedures for every step of the process ensure the safety of the donor and of the blood supply. Every measure is taken so that the donation is safe for the donor and the blood recipient.

According to the American Red Cross, 38,000 blood donations are needed per day. Each donation could save the lives of three other people.

“Blood products are critical to the treatment of patients in many medical settings, so an adequate and reliable source of blood is essential,” said Dr. Oliver Kim, chairman of pathology at Good Shepherd. “The blood bank is solely dependent on individual acts of generosity to maintain its supply. Giving blood saves lives.”

World Blood Donor Day is an international event celebrated every year on June 14, the birthday of Karl Landsteiner, the Nobel Prize winner who discovered the ABO blood group system. The event is meant to raise awareness of the need for blood donation and to increase voluntary donation around the world. This year’s theme is “More Blood. More Life.”

Appointments are encouraged, but walk-ins are welcome. To schedule an appointment, call (877) LIFESOURCE (543-3768) or visit donateblood.lifesource.org.