New Orleans - The Blood Center is contributing to a national effort to provide blood and blood products to support patients in Haiti who have been injured by the recent earthquakes. Working in coordination with AABB’s Inter-Organizational Task Force on Domestic Disasters and Acts of Terrorism, shipments of blood from The Blood Center have been sent to South Florida, where they are repackaged for distribution to Haiti.
“The Blood Center has provided the products that have been requested of us and we stand ready to provide additional products as needed,” said Ian Stephens, The Blood Center’s Vice President of Operations. “We would like to thank our blood donors for their ongoing commitment that allows us to help save lives whenever and wherever the need arises.”
Donors must be in good health, weigh a minimum of 110 pounds, be at least 16 years of age and present a valid picture I.D. Sixteen-year-old blood donors must weigh at least 130 pounds and have signed parental consent. Donors are encouraged to eat a healthful meal prior to and after donating. The Food and Drug Administrationchanges blood donor eligibility guidelines periodically. Individuals with eligibility questions are invited to call (800) 86-BLOOD.
In order to maintain a healthy and stable community blood supply, The Blood Center must collect between 300 to 350 pints of blood everyday. Donating blood is safe, simple and easy and just one pint can help to save up to three lives. Up to 60% of the population is eligible to donate blood, but only 5% actually do. The entire donation process takes less than an hour.
The Blood Center is a non-profit community service organization serving over 30 hospitals and outpatient facilities throughout Southeast Louisiana and Southern Mississippi. For more information or where to donate, please call The Blood Center at (800) 86-BLOOD or visit www.thebloodcenter.org.
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For more information, please contact Amanda Chittenden, Public Relations Manager, at
(504) 593-1916 or achittenden@thebloodcenter.org.
