About 90% of local heart patients get blood transfusions
during treatment
ERIE, PA –The Community Blood Bank is celebrating American Heart Month this February by reminding people that heart patients are very dependent on a safe blood supply as about 90% of heart surgery patients will need some type of blood transfusion during their treatment. Hundreds of people will have heart surgery in the region this year. The blood bank will hold several events in February to support American Heart Month.
American Heart Month is about preventing heart disease. The Community Blood Bank is there for patients every year that are treating heart disease so giving blood in February is a great way to help local heart patients.
The blood supply still hasn’t fully recovered from January’s low levels. Extra donors are needed to get the blood supply back up to 100%.
“Heart surgery is one of the things that people associate with needing blood,” Says Dan Desrochers Director of Marketing at the Community Blood Bank. “But so few people actually get motivated to give based on knowing someone with heart disease, we hope that American Heart Month will encourage new donors to come and give blood to help.”
The Community Blood Bank is located at 26th and Peach and is open Monday -Friday 8am to 6pm and Saturday from 9am to 12:30pm. No appointment is needed to save a life.
Tags: American Heart Month, blood donation, BLOOD DONOR, blood shortage, Community Blood Bank, Community Blood Bank of NW PA, Erie PA, February heart month, Give Blood, heart patient, heart surgery
