Blood drive at Saratoga Casino Hotel on Monday
Saratoga Casino Hotel is teaming up with the American Red Cross to host a blood drive amid a national blood shortage.
Members of the local community are urged to join dozens of Saratoga Casino Hotel team members to give blood from noon to 6 p.m. on Monday, July 22 inside the hotel ballroom.
The blood drive comes as the Red Cross recently raised the need for blood from a critical level to an emergency need. The Red Cross experienced a shortfall of scheduled blood drives in early July, and as a result, a shortage of blood donations. It is estimated that the Red Cross is currently pacing 17,000 donations behind schedule.
“A blood transfusion is the fourth most common inpatient hospital procedure in the United States, yet only three out of 100 people in the United States give blood,” said Patty Corvaia, communications manager for the New York – Penn Blood Services Region, in a press release. “Blood donations are being distributed to hospitals faster than they’re coming into the Red Cross. More donations are needed now to replenish the blood supply.”
To date, Saratoga Casino Hotel has collected more than 1,500 blood donations at its biannual blood drives. The collections have gone on to directly help approximately 3,500 patients in need.
“Our team members and the local community always respond with tremendous generosity when we host our blood drives,” said Alex Tucker, general manager at Saratoga Casino Hotel, in the release. “Our partnership with the Red Cross is something we value, and we look forward to helping them out in a time of need.”
All presenting donors at the upcoming blood drive will receive a $10 voucher to Perks Café, located in the hotel lobby. The Red Cross will also be providing donors with a free t-shirt.