Community Blood Center calls for Type O and Type A donations due to critical shortage
The Community Blood Center (CBC) urges community members to make a lifesaving difference during a CODE RED critical need for blood donations due to heavy emergency use.
CBC‘s supply of Type O and Type A blood are critically low, but all blood types are constantly needed to help patients with surgeries, sickle cell treatments, life-threatening traumas and more.
In just one day, two hospitals CBC supports needed more than 100 extra units of blood products to help patients experiencing severe blood loss.
“Local hospitals are using blood products to treat patients during emergencies faster than donations are coming in,” said John Hagins, president and CEO, The Community Blood Center. “By donating today, you can be someone’s lifeline tomorrow. We provide a safe and reliable blood supply to more than 40 hospitals throughout the Midwest, including multiple in Chicago.”
A single blood donation has the potential to save up to three lives when separated into key components in CBC’s lab: red blood cells, platelets and plasma. Several patients continue to receive large amounts of blood products from generous CBC donors this week:
• One patient required at least 21 emergency units of Type O blood.
• Another patient needed at least 30 emergency units of Type A blood.
CBC is showing appreciation for valued donors in many ways. All presenting donors at CBC’s Beverly Donor Center (9920 S. Western Ave., Chicago) or any mobile blood drive who schedule using promo code “CHI1000” receive 1,000 bonus Lifesaver Rewards points now and May 31.
Donors can redeem every 1,000 points for a $25 eGift Card in CBC’s online store.
There are many available appointments that must be filled as soon as possible. Please schedule a donation by visiting communityblood.org, using the CBC Donor App or calling (800) 280-4102.
About The Community Blood Center
The Community Blood Center was established in 1955 and continues today as an independent nonprofit providing a safe and reliable blood supply to hospitals in the Midwest. CBC has donor centers in Wisconsin (Appleton, Little Chute, Woodruff, Wausau and Green Bay) and Illinois (Chicago).
CBC hosts more than 100 blood drives every month. The Community Blood Center is a member of America’s Blood Centers (ABC) and Blood Centers of America (BCA) which are networks of independent community-based, not-for-profit blood centers supporting the blood needs for approximately 60% of the United States.