Make an appointment to donate blood on July 1st, 2nd or 5th and you'll receive a $10 gas card

As I sit with my family on the 4^th of July and the fireworks are lighting up the sky, I am thankful that my family is healthy and able to be with me. I know I’m one of the lucky ones.

In the nearly three years that I have worked at South Bend Medical Foundation, I have met many donors who all have different reasons for donating blood. Some are survivors of cancer, some have lost family members who have needed transfusions, and others are giving back because they are thankful their loved one survived a surgery or accident.

As I stated in a previous blog, summer is a hard time for the Foundation to keep our blood supply at above minimum levels. It’s a time when many of our donors are on vacation and local colleges and universities are on break.

We have to create promotions we think will appeal to donors and entice them to take time of their busy days and come in and donate. We also hope the promotion will be just enough to persuade a brand new donor to overcome their fears of the unknown and get stuck for the first time.

Not only will blood donors who donate this summer be entered to win a 2012 Ford Focus, but if you make an appointment for July 1^st, 2^nd or 5^th, you will automatically be given a $10 gas card when you donate a unit of blood. Appointments can be made by calling 574.234.1157 or online at www.GiveBloodNow.com.

Support RoofSit by donating blood on Thursday

It seems almost unimaginable that someone would lay a hand on a child, yet it happens every day.

On Thursday, June 23rd, South Bend Medical Foundation will support U93’s efforts to prevent childabuse and bring awareness to the community by donating $5 for each unit of blood donated.

"As a not-for-profit organization, we realize how important it is to appeal to the community for support.  We feel that U93’s Roofsit is a great cause.

The summer months are a particularly hard time for the Foundation to attract blood donors, and we are hoping this partnership assists us with our blood supply while providing funds to prevent child abuse," said Kay Clark-Cox, Manager of Blood Donor Recruitment.

Anyone wishing to make an appointment to give blood at the blood drive during the Roofsit event at Martin’s Super Market, 2081 South Bend Avenue in South Bend on Thursday, June 23rd between 11am and 4pm may do so by visiting http://bit.ly/ROOFSIT.

Anyone who donates blood before August 26th or donates at the RoofSit blood drive will be eligible to win the 2012 Ford Focus.

Helping Pets, Helping People

Did you know that human beings are not the only ones who can donate blood?  While humans need blood for surgeries and traumas, dogs need blood for the same reasons.

On Saturday, June 18^th, South Bend Medical Foundation will partner with Morris Animal Hospital to host a blood drive with the theme of “Helping Pets, Helping People,” from 10:30am until 3:00pm.

According to Dr. Amanda Cunningham, their hospital has collected a unit each month for several years which they keep on hand for traumas or routine surgeries. Dogs also might need blood if they have autoimmune diseases or if they digest rat poisoning which will cause bleeding.

The process for dogs to give blood is very similar to that of human donations.  First, the dog is screened to be sure that they are a healthy donor. This is done through testing which includes a complete blood count (CBC), a urinalysis, and the animal must be on heartworm, flea and tick prevention medication. In addition, the dog will be tested for dog erythrocyte antigens (DEA).  If the dog is 1.1 negative or positive, the animal is able to be a donor. Also, the donor must be at least 50 pounds, age 6 or younger and in good general health.

Just as our canine friends have minimum requirements they must meet to be eligible donors, humans have them as well. For example, while dogs must be a minimum 50lbs, humans must be a minimum of 110lbs. Also, human donors need to be screened to determine which of the eight blood types they are, dogs have up to 12 types of blood.

In a human donation, the donor gives a unit of blood which is 500mL of whole blood using a vein in the arm. Dogs give 450mL out of the jugular vein and medication is sometimes used to relax the four legged friend.  And finally, while human blood has a shelf life of 42 days, canine blood is good for about 25 days.

Although the Morris Animal Hospital has enough doggie donors signed up to give blood on Saturday, you can contact your local veterinary if you are interested in having your dog screened to be an eligible donor. If you are interested in seeing the process of how dogs donate blood or would like to donate blood yourself at the Morris Animal Hospital on Saturday, contact 271-1909 or sign up online at http://bit.ly/MorrisBloodDrive

Focus on Saving Lives and Win a Car!!!

For those of you who live in Michiana, you’ve probably heard Jordan Automotive’s tag line, “The Jordan Way.” They boast “Easy, Stress-Free & One Low Price.”

Well, this summer the low price can’t get any lower because South Bend Medical Foundation (SBMF) and Jordan Automotive have teamed up to offer our blood donors a brand new 2012 Ford Focus. It really doesn’t get much more stress-free and easier than that!

Today, WNDU helped pass along the word to their viewers that blood donors will be eligible to win the vehicle, or a $10,000 cash option, when they donate blood before August 26^th. SBMF will draw 50 names and those 50 will be on hand at Jordan Automotive on August 31st to see if they are winners of the Focus.

Although we run many promotions at South Bend Medical Foundation, this ranks as the largest! Help us kick off our summer promotion by donating blood at Jordan Automotive Group, 609 East Jefferson on Wednesday, June 8^th from 3pm -6pm. There’ll be food, Sunny 101.5, South Bend Medical Foundation’s bloodmobile and several chances for donors to win extra chances in the drawing for the Focus.

Help us FOCUS ON SAVING LIVES! To learn more about blood donations, to schedule an appointment or to view complete rules of the promotion, visit http://www.givebloodnow.com/