A record 13,960 units of blood from 17,000 potential donors were collected the week of Sept. 11 at Chicago-area LifeSource Blood Services donor centers.
“We’re far removed from New York,” said Skokie center donor Patricia Varco-White, a Park Ridge resident. “This is a way we can help without being there physically.”
Cheryl Balough, senior director of marketing at LifeSource, said only a small amount of the blood has been shipped to the East Coast, with most going to military bases. Record numbers of blood donors in the New York and Washington areas have made large shipments unnecessary. The New York Blood Center collected 5,000 units within the first 24 hours following the attacks.
This does not mean that Chicago-area residents should stop giving, Balough said. Before the attacks Chicago already was facing a blood shortage, she said, which forced hospitals to work on a day-by-day basis.
“We don’t want people thinking their blood is going to waste,” Balough said. “The area needs 1,500 blood donors every day.”
LifeSource is experiencing a 50 to 75 percent increase over their normal collection rates, but Balough said the exact number of units varies from day to day.
LifeSource is not turning people away, just asking them to make appointments, Balough said. The organization has 17 donor centers throughout the city and suburbs. These include donor centers at 4959 W. Golf Road in Skokie and on 1205 N. Milwaukee Ave. in Glenview.
During the week of Sept. 11 last year, LifeSource had 4,862 collections out of 5,700 potential donors. LifeSource is the area’s primary blood supplier, delivering to 160 hospitals and home-care agencies.
Balough said blood types O and B are needed most at the moment. To give blood, a donor must be in good health, weigh at least 110 pounds, be at least 17 years old or 16 with parental consent, and have had no tattoos or body piercings done within the past year. Donors can give blood every eight weeks.
Northwestern Student Blood Services co-President Laura Sell said the organization has been trying to do everything it can to help.
“We’ve been trying frantically to schedule a drive, but there are too many donors,” she said. “Everywhere is booked.”
Blood is divided into three categories: plasma for burn victims, red blood cells for surgical patients or those with anemia, and platelets for surgery patients and cancer patients.
To schedule an appointment at a LifeSource center, call 1-877-LifeSource or 1-800-486-0680.
SBS will be scheduling appointments for students during their regular fall blood drive on Oct. 24-25 at Norris University Center. To schedule with SBS, e-mail recruitment coordinator Hilary Shalla at [email protected].
Cara Moultrup contributed to this report.
