Snow day doesn’t stop Vitalant drivers from ensuring life-saving blood reaches patients

While most are staying inside to avoid the snow, the drivers of Vitalant are out on the roads, making sure life-saving blood donations get to Chicago area hospitals.

Despite the winter weather, these dedicated drivers are ensuring that donated blood reaches the lab on time, where it is tested and separated into red blood cells, platelets, and plasma — the essential components needed for patient transfusions.

The blood is kept on ice as it travels from donation centers to labs, and once tested and processed, it’s packaged into units for hospitals to use in life-threatening situations.

Though snowstorms may delay daily routines, Vitalant’s drivers work tirelessly to guarantee that hospitals receive the blood they need, 24/7, even in emergencies.

“Even on days like today, when the weather is tough, our priority is getting blood to the hospitals that need it most,” said Cynthia Kramer, a supervisor with Vitalant.

This dedication ensures that blood is always available for patients in need, no matter the conditions outside. Whether it’s routine or in response to an emergency, Vitalant’s team is committed to keeping hospitals stocked with the vital resources they require to save lives.

About Vitalant

Vitalant (Vye-TAL-ent) is one of the nation’s largest nonprofit blood and biotherapies health care organizations, providing hospitals and patients across the U.S. a safe blood supply, specialized laboratory services, transfusion medicine expertise and world-renowned research. Individuals generously donating blood, volunteering and giving financially are essential to our lifesaving mission. Learn more at vitalant.org.