Blood donation is one way to help organ transplant patients

Beth Ann Miller, The Daily American
·2 min read

WINDBER ― Chan Soon-Shiong Medical Center and the nonprofit organization Vitalant are sponsoring a blood drive to help organ transplant patients get the blood products they need while celebrating April as Donate Life Month.

The blood drive will be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday at the hospital, 600 Somerset Ave. Those who plan to donate blood should make an appointment by calling 877-258-4825, register online at vitalant.org or download the Vitalant app on their phone.

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A record number of organ transplants – over 46,000 – were performed in the U.S. last year, according to the United Network for Organ Sharing. Most of those patients required transfusions of red blood cells, platelets or plasma, said Natalie Samuel, blood drive coordinator at the Windber hospital.

One transplant patient may need as much as 20 to 30 units of blood, which is significant because there are 10 to 12 pints of blood in an average adult human body, according to a fact sheet provided by Vitalant, a nonprofit blood and biotherapies healthcare organization.

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“This is a great time to donate blood to support patients, including those who need transfusions during life-saving transplant surgeries, where every drop counts,” Samuel said. “With more than 46,000 organ transplants performed in the U.S. last year alone, your contribution is crucial. Join us in this vital cause and be a hero in someone's story - donate blood and save lives."

Donations of every blood type are needed, especially type O because that can be transfused into any patient, Samuel said.

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Donors who give blood through Vitalant from April 1-20, have an online Vitalant account and are opted in to its Donor Rewards program will be entered into its “Blaze a Trail” giveaway, where 20 winners will each receive $420 in gift cards. More information is available on their website, vitalant.org.

This article originally appeared on The Daily American: Vitalant, Chan Soon-Shiong Medical Center at Windber hosting blood drive