Vitalant Urges Blood Donation as Back-to-School and Back-to-Work Routines Resume

Aug. 5, 2021 — As many people prepare to go back to school and back to the office, the need for blood donations remains steady. Vitalant urges all eligible blood donors to schedule their next donation appointment now into their routines and help ensure patients have access to a readily available blood supply.
 
Urgent need for donors of all types
The need for type O blood is especially urgent. Type O is the most transfused blood type. O-negative is what emergency room personnel reach for when there is not time to determine a patient’s blood type. Platelet donations are critically needed. Platelets must be transfused within a week of donation and are used to help cancer patients, organ transplant patients, people who have open-heart surgery and to those with blood disorders.
 
Donations crucial to meet both anticipated and unexpected needs
It’s the blood already on the shelf that helps save lives during disasters and everyday emergencies. Natural disasters like wildfires and hurricanes often force Vitalant to cancel blood drives in affected areas. Donors in unaffected areas can help patients in their community or across the country as Vitalant’s distribution networks helps ensure blood is available when and where it’s needed most.
 
First-time donors can get sneak peek of their blood type
New donors are also vital to meeting patient needs. First-time donors with Vitalant can now get a glimpse at their blood type immediately* when they donate. Lab confirmation of blood type results and other useful health information is available about a week after donation in the donor’s online account.
 
How to give
To learn more and schedule an appointment to donate, please visit vitalant.org or call 877-25-VITAL (877-258-4825). Those who received a Food and Drug Administration authorized COVID-19 vaccine can give blood immediately if other eligibility requirements are met. Vitalant follows strict protocols to ensure the safety of donors, patients, and staff, including social distancing where possible and other precautions. To support a safe environment and most efficiently follow the latest CDC guidance, effective Aug. 9, masks are required for all donors, staff, volunteers and guests at Vitalant blood drives and facilities regardless of vaccination status. 

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.
 
*Nevada not included due to state restrictions.