The Community Blood Bank continues to urge local residents to come out and donate blood when possible due to the critical blood shortage.
Around 32% of the Community Blood Bank’s blood drives continue to cancel due to businesses and organizations not operating on site or operating in a limited capacity. Approximately 70% of blood donations every year come from the organization’s mobile blood drives, while the other 30% come from the Erie Donor Center. Therefore, it is imperative it makes up for those lost units of blood by maximizing the blood drives that are able to happen.
Additionally, around 20-25% of that 70% come from high school and college blood drives. With everything up in the air about returning to school this fall, the CBB is looking at a continued deficit of available blood products for the patients’ need for the foreseeable future.
This is also the final chance to be entered to win the outdoor package, including two Adirondack chairs and matching table.
A blood drive will be held from noon to 5:30 p.m. Aug. 24 at St. Bernard Catholic Church, 95 E. Corydon St., Bradford.
Call Shari Jerman at 814-688-3696 to schedule an appointment to donate.
The CBB implemented precautionary measures to ensure a safe and healthy environment for all donors, staff and volunteers. Those precautionary measures include; all donors and staff members are required to wear masks, temperatures of all personnel at the blood collection location are taken prior to entering the blood drive, extra sanitation measures are taken in between every donor and the chairs and collection beds are spread further apart.
Community Blood Bank partners with hospitals in Northwest Pennsylvania and Western New York to provide blood for patients in need.
Individuals are eligible to give blood if it has been 56 days since their last donation; they are at least 17 years of age (16 with parental consent); weigh at least 110 pounds; have not received a tattoo or body piercing in the past 12 months; are in good general health and do not have a cold or the flu. You must have a valid photo ID in order to donate.
Prior to donating, those giving blood should eat a good, solid meal and drink at least 18 ounces of water. For more information or to check eligibility to donate, visit www.fourhearts.org or call (877) 842-0631.
