Blood Centers of the Pacific (BCP) is still appealing to the public for immediate blood donations – especially of Type O blood. Because the community blood supply remains at a critical level, BCP’s Irwin Center location in San Francisco will open on Sunday.
As of this morning, BCP is reporting only a day’s supply of Type O blood on its shelves. BCP should optimally have a two and a half day’s supply to meet patient needs in local hospitals.
“Our inventory is still not out of the danger zone,” said Nora Hirschler, M.D., President of BCP. “It is important to remember that it’s the blood already on the shelves that saves lives, and it is absolutely critical to have an adequate supply at all times. Any emergency or trauma could deplete our supplies.”
Just last weekend, hospitals reported three liver transplants, several leukemia patients, and a massive trauma requiring more than 150 pints of Type O blood. If donations do not increase in the next several days, hospitals will likely begin canceling surgeries.
BCP’s Irwin Center location at 270 Masonic Avenue, San Francisco, will be open on Sunday, July 15 th, from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
BCP must provide 500 pints of blood every day to area hospitals to ensure they have an adequate supply.
To donate blood or to sponsor a blood drive, call 1-888-393-GIVE or visit www.bloodcenters.org.
BCP is a nonprofit, community-based organization that provides volunteer blood donations to 40 hospitals throughout Northern California.
Contact: Angela Woon, BCP
415-749-6698
Blood Centers of the Pacific (BCP) is asking for immediate blood donations – especially of Type O blood – to boost critically low blood supplies.
Just last week, blood bank officials alerted the public of a possible summertime blood shortage as its inventory of blood supplies declined. As of this afternoon, BCP is reporting only two hours’ supply of Type O blood on its shelves and is unable to fill out orders for Type O blood.
“With the July 4 th holiday last week, many organizations were unable to host blood drives,” said Nora Hirschler, M.D., President of BCP. “If donations do no increase in the next several days, hospitals will likely begin canceling surgeries.”
The shortage is compounded by very high usage in local hospitals. Just last weekend, hospitals reported three liver transplants, several leukemia patients, and a massive trauma requiring more than 150 pints of Type O blood.
In addition, officials report that blood drives scheduled for the next three weeks are 20 percent below what will be needed to meet expected demand.
BCP must provide 500 pints of blood every day to area hospitals to ensure they have an adequate supply.
To donate blood or to sponsor a blood drive, call 888-393-GIVE or visit www.bloodcenters.org.
BCP is a nonprofit, community-based organization that provides volunteer blood donations to 40 hospitals throughout Northern California.
Contact: Angela Woon, BCP
415-749-6698
Blood Centers of the Pacific (BCP) is asking for blood donations – especially of Type O negative blood – and platelets, to avert a summertime blood shortage.
Typically, summer is a difficult time for blood centers like BCP as many regular blood donors go on vacation, and donor groups such as high schools and colleges aren’t able to host blood drives. And with continued high usage from local hospitals during the summer, the need for blood increases sharply, resulting in a blood shortage.
“It’s just the start of summer and our inventory of blood supplies already show signs of decline. Currently we have less than one-day’s supply of Type O negative blood,” said Nora Hirschler, M.D., President of BCP. “Type O negative blood can be given to anyone in an emergency, and it’s absolutely critical to have an adequate supply of it at all times.”
Blood bank officials are also reporting a severe shortage of platelets, a critical blood component used to treat cancer patients, bleeding disorders, and needed for organ transplants. In addition, officials report that blood drives scheduled for the next three weeks are 20 percent below what will be needed to meet expected demand.
“To avoid the blood shortage trend, we’re asking individuals to make it a priority to donate blood and platelets, and organizations to schedule blood drives this summer,” said Dr. Hirschler. “It is important to remember that it’s the blood already on the shelves that saves lives.”
BCP must provide 500 pints of blood every day to area hospitals to ensure they have an adequate supply.
To donate blood or to sponsor a blood drive, call 888-393-GIVE or visit www.bloodcenters.org.
BCP is a nonprofit, community-based organization that provides volunteer blood donations to 40 hospitals throughout Northern California.
Contact: Angela Woon, BCP
415-749-6698
In addition to receiving a “mini-physical” at every blood donation, blood donors are now able to learn their cholesterol levels too. As a way to thank blood donors for their generosity and to improve the health of the community, Blood Centers of the Pacific (BCP) has started providing cholesterol tests on all donated blood. Blood donors can access their “total cholesterol” results via the Web or phone after just seven days of making a blood donation.
With an increased interest in personal health, blood bank officials are hoping that offering cholesterol testing will help motivate first-time blood donors – and keep those who already donate coming back. Keeping blood donors informed about their cholesterol levels will also help ensure their blood can be used for transfusion (high fat content in blood sometimes interferes with infectious disease testing and renders the donated blood unusable).
After each blood donation, a sample will be given a “total cholesterol” test. BCP uses this test because it does not require fasting and it’s important for blood donors to eat a healthy meal before giving blood. The most accurate test, called a “lipoprotein profile,” measures different types of cholesterol levels and is performed after fasting for 12 hours. Blood donors are told that the test performed by BCP simply provides an idea of cholesterol levels and are encouraged to c ontact their doctor for more detailed results.
“All our blood donors are volunteers and we’re excited to be able to provide this valuable test as a ‘thank you’ to them,” said Nora Hirschler, M.D., President of BCP.
Blood donations are used to treat trauma patients, those undergoing organ trans-plantation, new mothers and their babies, and cancer patients, among others. BCP must provide 500 pints of blood every day to area hospitals to ensure they have an adequate supply. BCP, which has centers throughout the region, is a nonprofit, community-based organization that provides volunteer blood donations to patients in 40 hospitals throughout Northern California.
To donate blood, call 888-393-GIVE or visit www.bloodcenters.org.
Contact: Lisa Bloch, BCP
415-749-6612
Blood Centers of the Pacific (BCP) – the nonprofit blood bank serving the Peninsula for 65 years – is opening its new Peninsula Center on Tuesday, February 6th in Millbrae.
The new center, located between El Camino Real and Highway 101, is located at 111 Rollins Road in Millbrae. The 8,000 square foot center features regular blood donor beds and four apheresis “e-Chairs.” Apheresis allows blood donors to donate specific components of blood, such as platelets, which are often used in complex surgeries and for those undergoing chemotherapy. The state-of-the-art “e-Chairs” allow donors to go online or watch DVDs while making their apheresis donations.
The center will be the second largest of BCP’s 12 Northern California donation locations.
To celebrate the new center, BCP is hosting a special Valentine’s Day Grand Opening on Wednesday, February 14 from 11 to 1pm. Millbrae Mayor, Marc Hershman and other local dignitaries, will be on hand to help mark the occasion and guests will be treated to special gifts, including See’s candies. The event is open to everyone.
The Peninsula Center originally opened in San Mateo in 1942 at Mills Memorial Hospital. In 1954, it moved to the grounds of Mills Peninsula Hospital in Burlingame, where it operated until last April, when the blood center moved to a temporary location in San Mateo to allow the hospital to begin its retrofitting construction.
BCP’s Peninsula Center will be open for blood donations:
Mondays, 8:00 am – 3:30 pm
Tuesdays, Wednesday and Thursdays, 11:00 am – 6:30 pm
Fridays, 8:00 am – 3:30 pm
Saturday 8:00 am – 2:00 pm
To donate blood, call 888-393-GIVE or visit www.bloodcenters.org.
BCP is a nonprofit organization that provides volunteer blood donations to 40 hospitals throughout the region, including eight on the Peninsula.
Contact: Lisa Bloch, BCP
415-749-6612
Blood Centers of the Pacific (BCP) is continuing to ask for immediate blood donations of all blood types to boost critically low blood supplies. As of this morning, BCP is reporting:
Blood donations are used to treat trauma patients, those undergoing organ transplantation, new mothers and their babies, and cancer patients, among others. BCP must provide 500 pints of blood every day to area hospitals to ensure they have an adequate supply.
Blood Centers of the Pacific is a nonprofit, community-based organization that provides volunteer blood donations to patients in 41 hospitals throughout Northern California. BCP has donation locations throughout the region.
To donate blood, call 888-393-GIVE or visit www.bloodcenters.org.
Contact: Lisa Bloch, BCP
415-749-6612
Blood Centers of the Pacific (BCP) is asking for immediate blood donations of all blood types to boost critically low blood supplies. As of this morning, BCP is reporting:
Typically, January, which is also National Blood Donor Month, brings blood shortages to metropolitan areas, as many regular blood donors are hit with the flu and bad weather across the country makes the normal practice of sharing blood more difficult. 2007 has proved no different.
Blood donations are used to treat trauma patients, those undergoing organ transplantation, new mothers and their babies, and cancer patients, among others. BCP must provide 500 pints of blood every day to area hospitals to ensure they have an adequate supply.
Blood Centers of the Pacific is a nonprofit, community-based organization that provides volunteer blood donations to patients in 41 hospitals throughout Northern California. BCP has donation locations throughout the region.
To donate blood, call 888-393-GIVE or visit www.bloodcenters.org.
Contact: Lisa Bloch, BCP
415-749-6612