Blood Assurance Initiates Appeal for Donors in Response to Impending Weather
March 2nd, 2012
Due to severe weather throughout the area and the cancellation of previously scheduled blood drives, Blood Assurance is issuing an appeal for blood donors this weekend.
The only source of blood components for all area hospitals and already facing shortages due to previous increased blood usage, Blood Assurance has initiated its disaster relief plan in response to the impending weather.
On Saturday, March 3, the following donor centers will be open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.:
Chattanooga, TN (Downtown, East Brainerd and Erlanger)
Cleveland, TN
Cookeville, TN
Dalton, GA
Fort Oglethorpe, GA
Hixson, TN
Rome, GA
The blood drive previously scheduled for Friday at First Baptist Church in Benton, TN has been rescheduled for Saturday, March 3 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Another bloodmobile will be at the Walmart in Calhoun, GA on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
On Monday, March 5 the Lowe’s in Cookeville, TN will host a blood drive from 11 a.m. to 5:15 p.m.
Also on Monday, Jones Management in Cleveland, TN will host a blood drive from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
All 11 donor centers will reopen on Monday at 8 a.m. All donors will be registered to win a weather radio. For more information or directions to your nearest donor center, please visit www.bloodassurance.org.
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Blood Bank Continues Appeal for Donations
February 14th, 2012
In 1972, Blood Assurance was founded to provide a safe and adequate supply of blood in the Chattanooga area. Prior to the creation of the region’s only blood bank, patients in need of blood transfusions were required to provide their own blood donors, who would donate blood at local hospitals.
As Blood Assurance celebrates its 40th anniversary in 2012, it is once again appealing to the public for donations to ensure a continued adequate supply of blood for patients in need.
Blood Assurance is now the sole provider of blood components for more than 50 hospitals and healthcare facilities and needs a minimum of 400 donations daily to meet area demands.
Accidents, traumas, chemotherapy treatments and routine surgeries are just some of the causes of the need for blood transfusions.
“I have bone cancer and my body has not made its own blood in the last three years. If not for the compassionate people giving of their life's blood, I would be dead,” said Tommy Aaron of East Ridge, TN.
Blood Assurance is currently in need of types O negative, A negative, B negative and O positive donations.
Donors are eligible to give whole blood every 56 days. To verify your eligibility, please call 1-800-962-0628 or use the Live Chat feature during business hours at www.bloodassurance.org.
Earlier this month, officials at Blood Assurance decided to extend hours at all facilities on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. to give area residents the opportunity to donate.
Several blood drives are also scheduled this month. For a complete list, please visit www.bloodassurance.org/blooddrives.
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Photo caption:
Caity Phillips, a student at Chattanooga State Community College, donates blood on Tuesday at Blood Assurance's main office in Chattanooga. Her donation will be used to help up to 3 patients in need.
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Blog Post: Blood Typing Events Scheduled
February 2nd, 2012
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.
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Blog Post: Area Blood Supply Lower Than National Average
January 19th, 2012
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).
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Special Events: January is National Blood Donor Month
January 2nd, 2012
At a time when donations are typically low, blood centers across the country recognize January as National Blood Donor Month.
According to America’s Blood Centers, 4.5 million Americans will need a blood transfusion each year. Only 37 percent of the U.S. population is eligible to donate blood, but less than 10% do annually.
Blood Assurance is encouraging area residents to roll up their sleeves in January to ensure that local patients get the life-saving blood transfusions they need. As the only blood provider to more than 50 hospitals and healthcare facilities, Blood Assurance needs an average of 400 blood donations every day to meet the local demands.
Weather and seasonal illnesses can contribute to a decrease in blood donations during the winter months, according to Blood Assurance. While schools and businesses may close for inclement weather, Blood Assurance’s goal of collecting 400 daily donations never changes.
“We’re similar to any other healthcare organization when it comes to inclement weather, “ said Linda Hisey, vice-president of marketing and public relations. “Even if the weather is severe enough to close our donation centers, our laboratory and shipping departments never close,” she said.
Hisey hopes that residents who start the year off by donating blood will continue to do so throughout the year in order to avoid shortages in the community’s blood supply. According to America’s Blood Centers, if all blood donors gave three times a year, blood shortages would be a rare event (The current average is about two.)
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