Community members who make an appointment to donate at any Blood Assurance donor center, bloodmobile, or blood drive between July 1-8 will receive a Fourth of July cooler. This complimentary gift is a part of Blood Assurance’s goal to save 90,000 lives this summer – a time when blood supply levels are historically low.
“We are always in need of blood and platelet donations, but during the summer, the need for donations grows exponentially,” said Dr. Liz Culler, medical director at Blood Assurance. “With families traveling and taking summer vacations, blood donations in the summer steadily decline. We have made great progress toward our goal of saving 90,000 lives this summer, but we still need community members to donate and be heroes for this great cause.”
The decline in blood donations during summer months is heavily due to summer vacation plans but is also due to high schools being closed for summer break. Students at Blood Assurance’s “Project Lifesaver” high schools donate one in seven units of blood.
Donors who give during July 1-8 will not only receive the Fourth of July cooler, but they will also be entered to win a vacation to the destination of their choice worth $1,500 as part of Blood Assurance’s “Be a Hero and Pick Your Paradise” contest. Donors will also receive snacks at the end of their donation and a T-shirt.
To be eligible to donate blood, donors must be at least 18 years old (16 and 17 years old with parental consent), weigh 110 pounds or more and be in good health. Donors are asked to drink plenty of fluids —avoiding caffeine – and eat a meal that is rich in iron prior to donating.
For more information about Blood Assurance, donating blood or hosting a blood drive, visit www.bloodassurance.org or call 800-962-0628.