Nonprofit Vitalant is urging all eligible volunteer blood donors to help prevent a summer shortage by giving blood this July. Donations around the Fourth of July are typically among the lowest of the year but patients’ needs don’t take a vacation.
Ann Johansson was on a trip to Sweden last summer when she collapsed at the airport. It turns out a malformed artery in her abdomen led to catastrophic internal bleeding. She was rushed to the hospital had five surgeries and received blood transfusions. Once flown home to the U.S., she spent two more months in the hospital in her battle with the extremely rare condition and the complications that ensued.
“I will forever be grateful for strangers in Sweden and the U.S. who donated blood that saved my life and helped my body to heal,” Johansson said.
Donors of all blood types are urgently needed, especially type O, the most transfused blood type. O-negative can be used to help any patient in an emergency and O-positive can help any patient with a positive blood type.
As a special thanks for donating July 8-27, donors will be automatically entered into Vitalant’s Summer Car Giveaway of a vehicle valued up to $30,000.
Learn more and make an appointment to give at vitalant.org, download and use the Vitalant app or call 877-25-VITAL (877-258-4825).
Select Upcoming Blood Drives in the San Francisco Bay Area
Tuesday, June 9 – Oakland, Jack London Square, 11:00 AM – 2:30 PM
Wednesday, July 10, San Jose, Central YMCA, 12:00 PM – 3:30 PM
Thursday, July 11, Benecia, Benecia Farmer’s Market, 3:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Wednesday, July 17, Cupertino, Northwest YMCA, 12:00 PM – 3:30 PM
Thursday, July 18, Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital, 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Donors can also give at one of the six Vitalant Bay Area donation centers.
About Vitalant
Vitalant (Vye-TAL-ent) is one of the nation’s largest nonprofit blood and biotherapies healthcare organizations, providing hospitals and patients across the U.S. a safe blood supply, specialized laboratory services, transfusion medicine expertise and world-renowned research. Individuals generously donating blood, volunteering and giving financially are essential to our lifesaving mission. Learn more at vitalant.org.
