LifeShare seeks blood donations

Following an overwhelming response this week from blood donors across the nation in support of victims of the Las Vegas shooting, the immediate blood needs have been met, according to a release.

Donors came out in large numbers to give blood following the tragedy; however, those donors won’t be eligible to donate again until early December, the release said.

Since blood has a shelf life of 42 days, LifeShare Community Blood Services is urging donors to make future appointments to ensure that patients have an ample supply of lifesaving transfusions going into and through the winter holiday season, according to the release.

To make a donation appointment, visit www.lifeshare.cc or call 866-6445433.

In Las Vegas, and across the country, donors came forward to give blood following the tragedy to help replenish the supply and meet additional patient needs in the upcoming weeks.

LifeShare Community Blood Services actively monitors hospital needs and proactively encourages donors to make future appointments when the time is right to carefully match blood collections with anticipated transfusions, the release said.

“After natural disasters and other tragedies, blood donors often come out in large numbers to support those affected,” said Debbie Bonzak, executive director of LifeShare Community Blood Services in the release. “But it is important to remember that hundreds of patients need lifesaving blood transfusions every day in our community.

“Every two seconds, someone in the U.S. needs a transfusion of donated blood. To patients and families benefitting from lifesaving blood donations, blood donors are heroes.”

LifeShare Community Blood Services, a Blood Systems blood center, is part of a multi-state system of blood centers.

This network works in tandem moving lifesaving donations throughout the system to help ensure blood is available when and where it’s needed most.

Individuals who are as young as 16 (with parental consent), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in general good health may be eligible to donate blood, according to the release.