Blog Post
Blog Post: Blood Typing Events Scheduled
February 2nd, 2012 9:02 AM
Blood Typing Events Scheduled for February
You’ve heard of finding the perfect match – looking for someone who’s just your type. The same can be said of the role Blood Assurance and its blood donors play in providing life-saving blood products to area patients.
In order to keep an adequate supply of blood on hand for the use of more than 50 hospitals and healthcare facilities, it is important for area residents to know their blood type and how it can be used to help others in need of blood transfusions.
Throughout the month of February, Blood Assurance will be hosting several “What’s Your Type” events throughout the region. The first 20 visitors at each location during the event can have their blood typed with just a finger stick and will learn their blood type within minutes.
Donors who have previously donated blood with Blood Assurance can simply show a photo ID to learn their blood type, since it is already on file with the regional blood center.
All participants will be entered to receive a gift certificate for dinner for two at an area restaurant.
The process for testing and typing a full blood donation can take several hours, after which the donors are notified of their blood type when their donor ID cards are mailed to them.
“The typing event will allow us to type donors on the spot, and if they wish to donate afterwards, we certainly welcome them to do so. We want potential donors to know what their type is and who can benefit from their blood donation,” said Linda Hisey, vice-president of marketing and public relations.
| Blood type | Percentage of population with this type | Who can receive this type |
| O+ | 37.4% | O+, A+, B+, AB+ |
| O- | 6.6% | All blood types |
| A+ | 35.8% | A+, AB+ |
| A- | 6.3% | A+, A-, AB+, AB- |
| B+ | 8.5% | B+, AB+ |
| B- | 1.5% | B+, B-, AB+, AB- |
| AB+ | 3.4% | AB+ |
| AB- | .6% | AB+, AB- |
Schedule of events:
Feb. 7 – Blood Assurance at Hixson
10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Feb. 7 - Blood Assurance at Gunbarrel
2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Feb. 9 – Blood Assurance at Cleveland
10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Feb. 9 – Blood Assurance at Dalton
2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Feb. 14 – Blood Assurance at Chattanooga (main office)
2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Feb. 15 – Blood Assurance at Erlanger
10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Feb. 17 - Blood Assurance at Rome
10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Feb. 17 – Blood Assurance at Cartersville
2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Feb. 21 – Blood Assurance at Tullahoma
9 a.m. to 11 a.m. CST
Feb. 21 – Blood Assurance at Cookeville
1 p.m. to 3 p.m. CST
Feb. 24 – Blood Assurance at Fort Oglethorpe
10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
For directions and more information, please visit www.bloodassurance.org/locations or call 1-800-962-0628.
Posted by lacey wilson | 0 Comment(s)
Blog Post: Area Blood Supply Lower Than National Average
January 19th, 2012 8:12 AM
Blood Assurance, the only source of blood for more than 50 hospitals and healthcare facilities in the region, is operating on a 3 to 4 day supply of blood, compared to the national average of an eight-day supply.
“We want the public to know that we are continuing to ask for their help because there has been an increase in the usage of blood in our area,” said Rick Youngblood, president and CEO of Blood Assurance.
Blood Assurance will be open at all facilities for extended hours this Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Donor centers that do not typically offer Saturday hours will be open on Saturday to give all area residents the opportunity to donate blood.
According to America’s Blood Centers, about one in seven people entering a hospital will need a blood transfusion.
“We need a minimum of 400 donations each day to supply the local hospitals. For instance, one patient alone used more than 100 units of blood last week,” said Dr. Liz Culler, medical director for Blood Assurance.
In comparison, the goal for an average blood drive is 40 units of blood.
“Our mission is to provide a safe and adequate supply of blood to every area patient in need, but we cannot do it without the help of our community,” said Youngblood.
Blood drive locations can be found at www.bloodassurance.org/blooddrives. Eleven donor centers are also located throughout the region. Hours and directions are available at www.bloodassurance.org/locations.
For questions about donating blood, please visit www.bloodassurance.org, where you can chat with a representative during business hours. Donors can also interact with the regional blood center on Facebook (www.facebook.com/bloodassurance) and on Twitter (@bloodassurance).
Posted by lacey wilson | 0 Comment(s)
Blog Post: Fort Payne Office Going Mobile in 2012
November 15th, 2011 12:45 PM
Blood Assurance Office Going Mobile in 2012
The local Blood Assurance office is going mobile just in time for the new year. The only supplier of blood donations to more than 50 hospitals and healthcare facilities will close its Fort Payne office on Dec. 2 to make way for a new traveling bloodmobile that will be stationed at Highlands Medical Center in Scottsboro.
The bloodmobile, designed to make donations more convenient by coming to the donors, will travel throughout Cherokee, DeKalb and Jackson counties to local businesses, schools, churches and civic groups. The bloodmobile will also travel to Winchester, Fayetteville and Tullahoma, Tennessee for blood drives.
“We’re thrilled to take our mission of saving lives on the road in Northeast Alabama. Formerly, bloodmobiles out of Chattanooga would make the drive down I-59 to collect these life-saving blood donations, but with a dedicated mobile facility, we will be able to offer more donation opportunities throughout DeKalb, Cherokee and Jackson Counties,” said Noetta Westbrook, vice-president of collections for Blood Assurance.
The bloodmobile will feature the same staff that donors are accustomed to at the Fort Payne office.
Area donors can visit www.bloodassurance.org/alabama at any time to view a list of upcoming blood drives. Business owners, church leaders and other community residents wishing to host a blood drive are encouraged to contact Tim Wilson at (423) 322-1556 or by email at timwilson@bloodassurance.org.
Posted by lacey wilson | 0 Comment(s)
Blog Post: Top 5 Reasons to Donate Blood Now
November 2nd, 2011 12:50 PM
Top 5 Reasons to Donate Blood Now
· You could win $1,000 for your favorite charity.*
· O negative donors – the universal donor – could win a trip for two to Universal Studios.
· Donations of O negative are at critical levels right now in our community.
· Your donation of blood could save up to 3 lives this holiday season - How else can you spend 30 minutes of your day saving a life?
· Sure you have a closet full of t-shirts, but you don’t have the latest donor t-shirt…
*Charity must be a 501(c)(3) organization.
Posted by lacey wilson | 0 Comment(s)
Blog Post: Donate One S'More Time
September 30th, 2011 1:50 PM
According to America’s Blood Centers, if blood donors gave blood just one more time each year, blood shortages would be a rare event. The current average per donor is two donations each year.
During the month of October, Blood Assurance is encouraging donors to give just “one s’more time” each year to help the community blood bank maintain an adequate supply of blood for local hospitals.
You can register at any location or blood drive to register for the “One S’more Time” giveaway, containing a fire pit, patio set, and six-burner gas grill. We’ll even throw in some graham crackers, marshmallows and chocolate for the s’mores.
For more information on the giveaway, visit www.bloodassurance.org/promotions or find a blood drive near you at www.bloodassurance.org/locations.
Posted by lacey wilson | 0 Comment(s)
Blog Post: 9/11 - Ten Years Later
September 7th, 2011 8:31 AM
Ten years later, we take a look back – not just at the
tragic events that unfolded that day – but the way in which our community and
our nation came together under the worst of circumstances to represent the
spirit of the American people. 
Where were you when you heard the news? Most of us remember exactly what we were doing and it’s hard to believe that ten years have passed. But it’s the action that so many people took upon hearing the news that still resonates with us.
When disasters occur, awareness of the constant need for blood donations comes to the forefront. As part of a network of regional blood centers, Blood Assurance and other blood centers can play a vital role in ensuring that blood is available in times of disaster.
During a three-day span that week, 2,144 donors gave blood
at Blood Assurance. Lines of donors patiently waited for their chance to help
during the troubling times. To put that into perspective, ten years later,
Blood Assurance needs a minimum of 2,095 units each week. In just three days,
our donors contributed more than a full week’s supply of blood donations to
benefit those in need.
As we remember those whose lives were lost that day, donors who give blood this week will be given a patriotic lapel ribbon. Donors will also be given a paper flag to sign, all of which will be sent to the New York Blood Center as a way to show our support and dedication to the mission of providing a safe and adequate supply of blood to those in need.
While we saw some tragic events unfold that day in 2001, we also saw first-hand the community spirit that moves people to action. The desire to do something positive, something helpful, something to better the lives of others.
To those who gave then and to those who give now – thank you.
Sincerely,
The Blood Assurance Staff
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Blog Post: Blood Assurance Open on Labor Day
August 22nd, 2011 12:26 PM
Blood Assurance in critical need of O-, O+, A-, A+ and B- donations
Blood Assurance president and CEO Rick Youngblood announced today that
the donor centers intend to remain open on Labor Day, due to the area’s
continued blood shortage.
While the laboratory and shipping departments of the area’s only blood bank are open year-round, the donation centers
are typically closed for six holidays during the year – January 1,
Memorial Day, July 4, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and December 25.
“We simply do not feel comfortable with our current inventory levels
and cannot justify the possible implications to area patients if we do
not put forth our very best effort to increase the blood supply,” said
Youngblood.
In order to meet the demands of local hospitals, a minimum of 400 units
is needed each weekday. With 12 locations and 10 bloodmobiles, the
blood bank has collected an average of 300 units per weekday in August.
Most Blood Assurance offices are also open on Saturdays, with additional
blood drives held on the weekends.
As of Aug. 17, Blood Assurance had an unseasonably low amount of O
negative blood available for shipment to local hospitals. Type O
negative blood – the universal type - is the one most commonly used in
an emergency situation since it can be received by anyone, regardless of
blood type.
Accident victims can require 50 or more units of blood.
According to Youngblood, summer donations over the last two years have
been decreasing with just 7,484 whole blood donations given in July 2011
and 7,277 donations in July 2010 compared to 8,203 donations in July
2009.
Typical summer shortages, along with the continued economic downtown, are contributing factors to the decreased supply.
Fewer businesses in operation to host blood drives, and fewer employees
at the businesses that do host blood drives are some of the economic
factors the blood center has faced, according to Youngblood.
Blood Assurance’s volunteer donors are the sole source of blood donations to more than 50 hospitals and healthcare facilities
in the region. In the United States, only blood collected from
non-paid, volunteer blood donors can be used for human transfusion.
Donated red cells expire after 42 days. Donors must be at least 17
years old - 16 years old with parental consent – and weigh at least 110
pounds to give blood. Whole blood donations can be made every 56 days.
Donors can call 1-800-962-0628 or use the Live Chat feature at www.bloodassurance.org to determine their eligibility status. For hours of operation and blood drive locations, please visit www.bloodassurance.org/locations.
Posted by lacey wilson | 0 Comment(s)
Blog Post: A Letter to Our Donors
July 13th, 2011 9:43 AM
To Our Valued Donors,
As your regional blood center, we value and appreciate your donations to the community’s blood supply. We are asking once again for your help, as our supply of O+ blood has decreased. Would you be able to give 30 minutes of your day to help us? We have more than 50 hospitals and healthcare facilities who depend on us to provide blood donations for their hospitals. We, in turn, depend on the generosity of people like you to help meet the needs of our community.
If you are able to donate, we ask that you call 1-800-962-0628 to make an appointment, or you can go online at www.bloodassurance.org to find your nearest location or blood drive. If you need to determine whether you are eligible to donate, we have representatives available to chat online during business hours at www.bloodassurance.org, or you can also call the number listed above.
Thank you for your contributions.
Sincerely,
The Blood Assurance Staff
Posted by lacey wilson | 0 Comment(s)
Blog Post: Updated Blood Drives for Thursday, Feb. 10
February 10th, 2011 9:07 AM
The snow has caused a few of our blood drives to be canceled today. We have relocated some of our bloodmobiles. In addition to our 12 locations, you can also donate today at:
Lowe's - Dayton, TN
10 a.m. to 6 p.m. (crew will be at lunch from 12:30 to 1 p.m.)
Walmart - Fort Oglethorpe, GA
10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Walmart (Brainerd) - Chattanooga, TN
10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The Cross Culture Christian Church - Chattanooga, TN
(between Chattanooga College and ITT tech in Eastgate Town Center)
12 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Floyd Medical Center - Rome, GA
8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Posted by lacey wilson | 0 Comment(s)
Blog Post: Blood Assurance Video Pokes Fun at Winter's Impact on the Blood Supply
February 9th, 2011 3:44 PM
Posted by lacey wilson | 0 Comment(s)
