Give a Gift from the Heart This Month -- Donate Blood
News Release: February 1, 2005
Contact: Janice Osborne, Director-Communications and Marketing
(610) 865-4400, ext. 262
Give the gift of life this February in honor of Valentine’s Day. While cold weather and icy roads took a toll on area blood donations during the month of January, the American Red Cross is confident in the generosity of the community and hopes that, despite the weather, people will donate as soon as possible at a nearby blood drive in order to maintain an adequate blood inventory.
Blood collections were much lower than desired over the past two-week period. Along with the major snow storm this past weekend, the icy roads caused by several minor snow events since mid-January have had a major impact on blood collections. The Red Cross greatly appreciates the people who have weathered the storms and donated blood during this time but the numbers are much less than the needed units of blood per day. Should that situation continue, the Red Cross system would not be able to adequately support blood needs to trauma victims and surgical patients.
“The blood needs of patients in our area can only be met by people here at home giving blood now,” said Northeastern Pennsylvania Blood Services Chief Executive Officer Donald R. Fipps. “Blood has to be donated, tested, processed, and available on the shelves when needed. All this can take as many as three days. Patients and doctors can’t afford to wait those two to three days. We are urging people to call 1-800-GIVE LIFE to schedule a donation now.”
The American Red Cross Bloodmobile will make the following visits in Carbon County during the month of February:
Thursday, Feb. 10, from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m., at Jim Thorpe Memorial Hall, W. 10th Street in Jim Thorpe.
Wednesday, Feb. 23, from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m., at the Blue Mountain Health System Conference Center (formerly Gnaden Heutten Conference Center), Sixth & Iron Streets in Lehighton.
The American Red Cross is asking everyone who is at least 17 years old, who weighs at least 105 pounds, and who is healthy to please give blood and help build the area’s blood supply to a safe level.
