Senator Coons’ office recently came together to create an employee team for the Blood Bank of Delmarva. It is important to Chris and his staff that Delawareans are aware of the Blood Bank’s life- changing and life-saving work.
The Blood Bank of Delmarva is a non-profit community service organization that provides blood and blood products to 16 hospitals on the Delmarva Peninsula. In the past year, over 50,000 people provided blood donations for over 20,000 recipients.
This is a time when the nation’s blood supply is often experiencing critical shortages. Many people are unaware that much of today’s medical care depends on a steady supply of blood from healthy donors. About one out of every seven people entering a hospital needs blood.
“Blood donation is about saving lives,” said Chris. “A member of my staff recently shared with me that her father is here today because of the generosity of blood donors–a sudden illness required that he receive 11 pints of blood. He was fortunate that blood was available at the time of his emergency because that is not always the case. In order to keep saving lives, we must continue to encourage others to donate.”
One pint of blood, the average donation, can save up to three people’s lives. If only an additional one percent of all Americans gave blood, blood shortages would disappear for the foreseeable future.
Healthy adults who are at least 17 years old and weigh at least 110 pounds may donate one pint of blood every two months. The process takes one hour and four easy steps: medical history, quick physical, give blood and snacks.
The Blood Bank of Delmarva operates four blood donor centers throughout Delaware and the Eastern Shore of Maryland, as well as 32 established mobile donation locations. Check with your company, school, place of worship, or civic organization to see if they host blood drives.
For more information about the Blood Bank, creating a team, or to schedule an appointment to give blood visit: www.delmarvablood.org