24 BLOOD DONATION DEFERRAL FOR FLU VACCINATION LIFTED

ERIE, PA – As of September 2011, there will no longer be a deferral for the influenza vaccine, as long as the blood donor feels well and does not have a fever.  Prior to the lifting of this deferral, a donor would be deferred for 24 hours after receiving the flu vaccine. 

 “On average, the Community Blood Bank would defer about 45 donors annually due to the flu vaccine, however, this does not include donors who would self-defer themselves because they knew we would defer them” says Brittany Yost, community outreach & program coordinator at the Community Blood Bank.  “With this deferral being lifted we will be able to collect more units daily which will help maintain a safe local blood supply.”

 Community Blood Bank’s mission is to assist communities in the region to meet their own needs for a safe, adequate supply of blood and blood products, while meeting or exceeding all safety and compliance requirements, and at the most cost efficient price. 

Community Blood Bank of NWPA & WNY is the primary supplier of blood and blood products to all the hospitals in Erie, Elk, McKean, Tioga, Potter, Warren counties and Titusville Area Hospital in Crawford County. Community Blood Bank is also the primary supplier of all blood and blood products to all hospitals in Allegany, Cattaraugus and Chautauqua counties in WNY. 

In order to maintain a safe and adequate blood supply, Community Blood Bank asks all local donors to make their life-saving donation with Community Blood Bank to help save the lives of local patients. Community Blood Bank only draws from the areas in which it supplies; all blood donations made with Community Blood Bank stay local and will help to save the lives of local patients.

5 Donors to win copies of Paul Heimel’s Book: 1911 The Austin Flood

Blood drive at the high school in Austin PA on Wednesday September 28^th from 1 to 5pm

Austin, PA – There is still a serious blood shortage affecting the region and the Community Blood Bank of NW PA has teamed up with local author Paul Heimel to help end it. Knox Books is donating five copies of the new title, “1911: The Austin Flood,” autographed by author Paul W. Heimel — a blood donor himself — to be awarded by random drawing from among those who donate at the Sept. 28 drive in Austin.

 The Community Blood Bank of NW PA is holding a blood drive on Wednesday September 28^th from 1 to 5pm at Austin High School in Austin.  Walk-ins are welcome; No appointment is needed to save a life.

  The timing is perfect, since the town of Austin is marking the 100th anniversary of the tragic Sept. 30, 1911, dam failure and flood with a full weekend of activities Sept. 30-Oct. 2.

 “1911: The Austin Flood” (knoxbooks.net) is a 300-page, limited edition book containing some 175 photographs, many of them never before seen by the public.

 “Austin was once tabbed ‘the town too tough to die,’ and there is a lot of truth in that label,” author Heimel said. “There is a resiliency to the population of Austin that dates backs several generations and is carried on today by a new generation of leaders. I’m pleased to be able to support the worthy cause of blood donation in this special community.”

 The Community Blood Bank of Northwest Pennsylvania is licensed by the FDA and holds permits from the New York Department of Health and the Pennsylvania Department of Health and has been saving lives since 1966. It is accredited by the AABB and CLIA and is a member of America’s Blood Centers.

YOU OTTER GIVE BLOOD!

First 100 donors starting Tuesday get a pair of

gold TICKETS to the Otters home opener!

ERIE, PA –The Community Blood Bank and the Erie Otters have teamed up again to save lives this week. Starting Tuesday morning the first 100 donors that come to the Community Blood Bank at 26^th and Peach Street get a pair of gold tickets to the Otters home opener October 1^st and one lucky donor will win a gift basket with a team Jersey, and lots of other great Otters swag. There is still a blood shortage affecting the region and more donors are needed to save lives locally.

 PHOTO OP: At 1pm Tuesday several players from the Otters will be coming to give blood at 26^th & Peach Street.

 This is part of the GIVE BLOOD: SEE HOCKEY Promotion.  All donors until September 30^th can enter to win tickets to see the Pittsburgh Penguins play the Buffalo Sabres in Pittsburgh on October 15^th.

  “We are so excited to be working with the Otters to save lives locally,” Said Dan Desrochers, Director of Marketing at the Community Blood Bank. “Their season is just getting started so it’s a great way for fans to show support!”

TYPE O FALLS BACK TO CRITICALLY LOW LEVELS

ERIE, PA – The local supply of Type O blood, which represents 46% of all blood transfused, was at seriously low levels after the Labor Day Weekend shortage has now dropped backed down to critically low levels amid very heavy usage by local patients. Everyone is once again encouraged to give blood to help out.

The Community Blood Bank of Northwest Pennsylvania is located at 26^th and Peach Street in Erie and is open Monday through Friday 8a.m. to 6p.m. and Saturday 9a.m. to 12:30p.m. No appointment is needed to save a life.

“Not again,” said Dan Desrochers, Director of Marketing at the Community Blood Bank. “Just when we thought we had turned the corner, please help by giving blood.”

The Community Blood Bank is located at 26^th and Peach and is open Monday to Friday 8am to 6pm and Saturday from 9am to 12:30pm. No appointment is needed to save a life.

SERIOUS BLOOD SHORTAGE CONTINUES

 Blood bank continues to struggle to get enough donors

ERIE, PA – The region is still experiencing a serious blood shortage; it’s up a modest amount from Labor Day Weekend’s critical lows. Blood usage at area hospitals continues to be heavy, preventing the blood supply from recovering. Donors of all blood types are encouraged to come in this week and give blood.

 Give Blood: See Hockey! Hockey Season is fast approaching and the Community Blood Bank will be giving one lucky donor who donates at 26^th and Peach St in Erie this month four tickets to see the Pittsburgh Penguins play the Buffalo Sabres in Pittsburgh on October 15^th.

 “Still feels like summer as far as the blood supply goes,” said Dan Desrochers, Director of Marketing at the Community Blood Bank. “ We hope a few extra people will take action to save a life this week.”

 The Community Blood Bank is located at 26^th and Peach and is open Monday to Friday 8am to 6pm and Saturday from 9am to 12:30pm. No appointment is needed to save a life.

NATIONAL BLOOD COLLECTORS WEEK–SEPT 11-17

 First 60 DONORS Tuesday get a coupon for a free 

appetizer from Calamari’s

ERIE, PA – AABB and Fenwal Inc. are collaborating to celebrate the seventh annual National Blood Collectors Week, September 11-17th, 2011. This recognition week will promote and recognize the outstanding contributions of phlebotomists and apheresis operators and all others involved in supporting the nation’s blood supply. More detailed information is available at http://www.bloodcollectors.org/.

 The first 60 donors Tuesday will receive a coupon for a free appetizer from Calamari’s on State Street; they’ll also be providing food at lunch time.

 There is still a serious blood shortage in the region and everyone is encouraged to give blood.

 “Blood collection professionals are integral to the donation process,” AABB CEO Karen Shoos Lipton said. “The professionalism these dedicated individuals exude helps to ensure repeat donations, which is central to maintaining an adequate blood supply that is readily available whenever and wherever our communities need it.”

 According to AABB, about 29 million units of blood components are transfused annually in the United States. Last year the CBB provided over 42,000 units of blood and blood products to over 10,500 patients regionally. The Community Blood Bank has over 60 employees and supplies blood to 19 hospitals in 10 counties in PA and NY.

 The Community Blood Bank of Northwest Pennsylvania has been a member of the AABB for 34 years. 

ERIE, PA – Tepid donor turnout to this current appeal for donors and continued very heavy blood usage by local patients forced the Community Blood Bank to purchase blood from out of town to cover current local needs. Just over 100 units of blood (about 1 day’s supply) were purchased Wednesday September 7th from a blood bank in Ohio to help cover the immediate local need.

 The Community Blood Bank has an ongoing relationship with this blood bank which enabled the purchase. Any extra blood in the United States is going to cover blood drives lost to Irene or to Texas for the wildfires. The CBB was very fortunate to be able to get it.

 “We got very lucky the blood was available,” Says Dan Desrochers Director of Marketing at the Community Blood Bank. “People depend on our blood every day, what if it wasn’t there?”

 All donors are strongly encouraged to donate at the Community Blood Bank, 2646 Peach Street.  Community Blood Bank is open from 8a.m. to 6p.m. Monday through Friday and Saturday 9a.m.—12:30 p.m.  Photo ID required.

CRITICAL BLOOD SHORTAGE CONTINUES

ERIE, PA – Very modest donor turnout Tuesday was not enough to stop the dropping blood supply levels. It will take many more people volunteering to end this critical blood shortage.  Officials at the blood bank expect to struggle until all of the high school and college blood drives resume in about a week. 27% of all blood donated to the Community Blood Bank comes from students under 23.

 Give Blood: See Hockey! Hockey Season is fast approaching and the Community Blood Bank will be giving one lucky donor who donates at 26^th and Peach St in Erie this month four tickets to see the Pittsburgh Penguins play the Buffalo Sabres in Pittsburgh on October 15^th.

 “We can’t wait for the schools to settle in,” Says Dan Desrochers Director of Marketing at the Community Blood Bank. “But until then we’d like everyone else who hasn’t donated this summer to come in and help out.”

 All donors are strongly encouraged to donate at the Community Blood Bank, 2646 Peach Street.  Community Blood Bank is open from 8a.m. to 6p.m. Monday through Friday and Saturday 9a.m.—12:30 p.m.  Photo ID required.

CRITICAL BLOOD SHORTAGE

ERIE, PA – Very heavy holiday weekend blood usage by local patients has caused the return of critically low levels. The current blood supply levels are very near the lowest of the entire year.  Type A is the lowest followed closely by type O blood. Donors of all types are urgently needed to help end it as local lives are literally at risk when the blood supply is this low.

 The Community Blood Bank is located at 26^th and Peach and is open Monday through Friday from 8am to 6pm, and Saturday from 9am to 12:30pm. Photo ID is required but no appointment is needed to save a life.

 “What a tough weekend!” Says Dan Desrochers Director of Marketing at the Community Blood Bank. “We really need a few very busy days here to get us out of the danger zone.”

 All donors are strongly encouraged to donate at the Community Blood Bank, 2646 Peach Street.  Community Blood Bank is open from 8a.m. to 6p.m. Monday through Friday and Saturday 9a.m.—12:30 p.m.  Photo ID required.

LOCAL BLOOD SUPPLY TANKS

Very heavy holiday weekend blood usage

 ERIE, PA – The local blood supply that had been at moderate-shortage levels before the holiday tanked this weekend. Very heavy holiday weekend blood usage by area hospitals is the culprit. Labor Day Weekend is traditionally one of the three worst weekends of the year for blood usage; and this year it looks like it will top the list. The blood bank being closed on Monday for the holiday is also a factor. Everyone who can is urged to give blood soon to save local lives.

The Community Blood Bank of Northwest Pennsylvania is located at 26^th and Peach Street in Erie and will be open this week Tuesday through Friday 8a.m. to 6p.m. and Saturday 9a.m. to 12:30p.m. No appointment is needed to save a life.

“We knew it was going to be bad,” said Dan Desrochers, Director of Marketing at the Community Blood Bank. “But this is worse than we expected. If you haven’t given blood recently we ask that you please take the time to save someone’s life.”

The Community Blood Bank is located at 26^th and Peach and is open Monday to Friday 8am to 6pm and Saturday from 9am to 12:30pm. No appointment is needed to save a life.