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For Immediate Release June 12, 2014
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Contact: Jayne Giroux Director of Community Development 1760 Mound Street, Sarasota, FL 34236 Office 941-954-1600 ext. 124 |
June 14 is World Blood Donor Day
SunCoast Blood Bank Needs Community Support This Summer
Sarasota, FL – Summer is the most challenging time of the year for SunCoast Blood Bank (SCBB), to keep its inventory of blood products at safe levels. Recognizing World Blood Donor Day on June 14, helps focus on the importance of blood donation, and to recognize the contribution of voluntary, donors in saving lives and improving health. In 2005, WBDD was designated as an annual global event by the 58th World Health Assembly. World Blood Donor Day is now celebrated every year throughout the world.
“During the summer months, blood and platelet donations in our area can drop by as much as 15%,” said Jayne Giroux, Community Development for SCBB. Several factors contribute to the drop according to Giroux. “Our high schools are not in session. Our winter residents are gone, and many families take vacations during the summer. We still need to collect 125 units of blood a day, 365 days a year, to supply our local hospitals.”
World Blood Donor Day has a further purpose: to create wider awareness about the need for availability and appropriate use of safe blood and blood products, and the need for many more people to make a commitment to regular voluntary unpaid blood donation.
The date of 14 June is the birthday of Karl Landsteiner (1868–1943), an Austrian biologist and physician, considered to be the “founder” of modern blood transfusion. Landsteiner discovered the ABO blood groups in 1901, developed the modern system of classification of blood groups, and identified, in 1937, together with Alexander S. Wiener, the Rhesus factor, thus enabling physicians to transfuse blood without endangering a patient’s life.
About SCBB – SunCoast Blood Bank (SCBB) is a registered 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization providing a reliable supply of safe blood products and services to our community for over 60 years. SCBB provides 100% of the blood products and services for Sarasota Memorial Healthcare System, Manatee Memorial Hospital, Lakewood Ranch Medical Center, Doctors Hospital of Sarasota, Complex Care Hospital of Ridgelake, HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospital of Sarasota,Surgery Center at St. Andrews Venice, North Port Emergency Room, Fawcett Memorial Hospital of Port Charlotte, Englewood Community Hospital, DeSoto Memorial Hospital and Bayflite 2. SCBB is recognized as a distinguished provider with outstanding customer service and the ability to provide rare blood services onsite. For SCBB donor locations and more information, visit www.scbb.org or call 1-866-97-BLOOD.
