Every day, organ and blood marrow transplant patients require blood transfusions; a single liver transplant patient can need 20 or more units of blood. Nonprofit blood services provider Vitalant urges all who are eligible to give blood to make an appointment now to give in April, National Donate Life Month. For a limited time, Vitalant donors can also find out their COVID-19 antibody status and potentially help immunocompromised COVID-19 patients. Learn more at vitalant.org/antibody.
The Need is Urgent
One in 7 hospitalized patients needs a blood transfusion. All blood types are needed to support emergency and ongoing patient needs. Type O blood is most commonly transfused and type O negative is vital in emergencies when a patient’s blood type isn’t known. Platelets are also needed every day because they must be used within a week of donation. Platelets often support cancer patients and are used to help form blood clots and stop bleeding.
How to Give
Appointments are encouraged. Please visit vitalant.org or call 877-25-VITAL (877-258-4825). Donors who meet all eligibility requirements can give regardless of COVID-19 vaccination status. Masks are optional for staff, donors and visitors except where required by local regulations or blood drive host.
About Vitalant
Vitalant (“Vye-TAL-ent”) is the nation’s largest independent, nonprofit blood services provider exclusively focused on providing lifesaving blood and comprehensive transfusion medicine services for about 900 hospitals and their patients across the U.S. Every day, Vitalant needs to collect about 5,300 blood, platelet and plasma donations to help save lives. For more information and to schedule a donation appointment, visit vitalant.org or call 877-25-VITAL (877-258-4825). Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.