Palos Heights Woman's Club Annual Blood Drive

SUMMERTIME BLOOD DONORS NEEDED

Heartland Blood Centers, a non-profit independent medical organization providing blood products to 49 Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana hospitals, asks all healthy individuals to “roll up their sleeves” and give blood this summer.   If you have not yet made your summertime blood donation, you are urged to do so this month.

“Summertime it is historically the time of year when blood centers across the country struggle with their blood inventory levels.  Heartland is no exception.” said Dennis Mestrich, President and CEO of Heartland Blood Centers.  Mestrich also states “Schools close for the summer, and workers go on vacation. This compounds our challenge to collect the blood needed to maintain safe and adequate blood inventories.” 

 Patients in the 49 area hospitals who rely on Heartland for all of their transfusion needs require more than 600 units every day for their surgery and treatment.  After assuring that these patients’ blood needs are met, Heartland maintains a limited surplus supply of blood products on hand in order to respond to any local or national emergencies.

To be a blood donor, individuals must be at least 17 years old or 16 with written parental permission; weigh at least 110 pounds; be symptom free of cold, flu and allergies; and be in general good health. Donors who have traveled outside the United States within the past 12 months should contact Heartland at 1-800-7TO-GIVE to determine eligibility or visit www.heartlandbc.org.

Remember, the need for blood never takes a vacation.