Community members are encouraged April 27 through May 2to become a hero for local area hospital patients by making a critical blood donation during Blood Assurance’s first-ever “Hero Week.” All donations will be sent to local hospitals and save at least three lives per donation. As a thank you for each donation, all heroes will receive a free movie ticket to the movie of their choice in celebration of the Marvel movie premiere of “The Avengers: Age of Ultron”, opening May 1. In response to the rising blood demand from the more than 75 regional healthcare facilities supported by Blood Assurance, the blood center aims to see 3,800 blood donors during Hero Week. Over 540 volunteer blood donors are needed every day in order to adequately supply these hospitals.
In an effort to honor the community’s donor heroes, Blood Assurance is also commending various professional heroes within the area and calling on them to donate blood alongside the public on the following themed days: Firefighter Monday, EMT Tuesday, Policeman Wednesday, Teacher Thursday and Military Friday. In addition to the six typically opened centers, Blood Assurance will be opening the doors to each of the organization’s 15 donor locations to close out Hero Week with Superhero Saturday.
“It is easy to forget that the need for blood is constant. Whether it’s a local cancer patient or an accident victim, people are in continuous, critical need of blood donations,” said Charlie Callari, vice president of marketing and donor recruitment for Blood Assurance, Inc. “Hero Week is an initiative designed to help save lives and meet the growing demand of area hospitals, while also being able to honor donors who truly are our local patients’ heroes.”
According to America’s Blood Centers, every two seconds someone in the United States needs. To meet this widespread demand, area donors may donate every 56 days for a total of up to six times per year. Donating blood is an extremely safe process, with no possibility of disease transmission. All materials used to collect a pint of blood are new and used only once per donation, as well as sterile and disposable.
“Without our heroic donors, our organization would not be able to effectively help hundreds of suffering patients across our region each year,” said Adam Ellsworth, Northeast region marketing and donor recruitment manager for Blood Assurance. “We want to show our gratitude to these every day heroes whose simple sacrifice translates literally into added years of life for individuals and families who were in danger of losing it all.”
To be eligible to donate blood, you must be at least 17 years old (16 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.
While donor appointments are not required, they are encouraged and may be completed at www.bloodassurance.org/appt. For more information on Blood Assurance, donating blood or hosting a blood drive, visit www.bloodassurance.org or call 1-800-962-0628.