AURORA, Ill., Sept. 26, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Versiti Blood
Center of Illinois has issued an
emergency appeal for blood donations, as the available supply has
dropped to critically low levels. Without donors, communities
throughout the state face a potential crisis as hospitals may not
have the blood needed to treat patients.
"One in seven people will need blood and the current situation
is dire for our partner hospitals and the patients they serve,"
said Dr. Dan Waxman, vice president
of transfusion medicine and senior medical director at Versiti. "We
are at the point where we are begging our loyal donors, as well as
first-time donors in the community, to come out and donate today!
Blood means life, and every single donation matters."
Due to the continued impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, Versiti's
mobile collections are down more than 20,000 units of blood this
year.
Versiti Blood Center of Illinois needs to see 5,000 donors this week,
over 700 a day, to adequately provide their 86 hospital partners in
the state with lifesaving blood.
All blood types are needed, with type O positive and O negative
most in demand. O positive is the most common blood type, while O
negative blood is the universal type that can be received safely by
all patients in emergencies when the blood type is not known.
Donors are encouraged to make a commitment to help save a life
through blood donation today! Donation center hours of been
extended through October 1 to
accommodate more donors; walk-ins are welcome.
Donor center locations:
- WESTMONT: 6317 S.
Fairview
- TINLEY PARK: 16100 Centennial
Circle
- BLOOMINGDALE: 204 Gary
Ave.
- NAPERVILLE: 1297 S. Naper
Blvd.
- WINFIELD: 27W281 Geneva
Rd.
- JOLIET: 2625 W. Jefferson
St.
- GENEVA: 2000 W. State St.,
Unit 1E
- AURORA: 1200 N. Highland
Ave.
- ELGIN: 1140 N. McLean
Blvd.
- CRYSTAL LAKE: 6296 Northwest
Hwy.
- YORKVILLE: 728 E. Veterans
Pkwy., Suite 112
- DEKALB: 2428 Sycamore Rd.
- HIGHLAND: 2126 45th Street
One donation of blood can save up to three lives, and anyone age
17 or older in good health who meets eligibility requirements is
encouraged to give. Parental consent is required for donors age 16
to donate blood. Donating blood takes about an hour. As Versiti
staff serves donors responding to this urgent need, wait times may
increase.
To help ensure donor safety, everyone entering a Versiti
facility must wear a mask and have their temperature taken. All
Versiti donation locations practice social distancing and closely
adhere to FDA and CDC cleaning and disinfecting protocols.
To schedule an appointment to donate blood or find a blood drive
in your community, call 1-800-786-4483 or visit Versiti online at
versiti.org/IL.
ABOUT VERSITI BLOOD CENTER OF ILLINOIS
Versiti Blood Center of
Illinois is a not-for-profit
organization headquartered in Aurora,
IL., that specializes in blood products and services and
provides expert medical and technical support. Founded in 1943, it
is the oldest blood center in Illinois and serves patients at 86 hospitals
in Chicagoland and Northwest
Indiana. It operates 13 donor centers and conducts nearly
2,200 blood drives annually at area hospitals, churches,
businesses, schools and community centers. To learn more, visit
versiti.org/IL.
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SOURCE Versiti Blood Center of Illinois