ImpactLife eyeing losses due to winter storm

Published by Kirby Winn on Tuesday, January 9, 2024 in News Releases

Hazardous travel conditions across portions of the ImpactLife service region are taking a toll on our region’s blood supply. A large portion of the ImpactLife service region received heavy snow overnight which is expected to continue throughout the day on Tuesday. Winter weather has forced the cancellation of numerous blood drives, with many donors unable to keep scheduled appointments at ImpactLife Donor Centers as well.

More than 1000 donations are estimated to have been lost due to the storm and weather related cancellations. ImpactLife is seeking additional donors to help ensure the blood center's ability to provide for local hospitals. Donors may find a nearby Donor Center or mobile blood drive by calling (800) 747-5401, or schedule online at www.bloodcenter.org, or with the ImpactLife mobile app (www.bloodcenter.org/app).

"Patient care never stops, and that means the use of blood remains constant even as we see canceled blood drives and missed appointments due to the snowstorm," said Amanda Hess, Vice President, Donor Relations and Marketing. “We are urging all potential donors who can travel safely to please schedule an appointment and help ensure our ability to meet patient needs for local hospitals and beyond.”

To thank donors who give blood during January's National Blood Donor Month, ImpactLife is providing all presenting donors a voucher to redeem for the donor's choice of an electronic gift card, 500 bonus points to use in the Donor Rewards Store, or an equivalent donation to the National Forest Foundation. (Learn more at www.bloodcenter.org/now.)

About ImpactLife

ImpactLife is a nonprofit community organization providing blood services to more than 120 hospitals and emergency medical service providers in Illinois, Iowa, Missouri, and Wisconsin, as well as resource sharing partners across the country. Services extend from southcentral Wisconsin to St. Louis, Missouri and from Danville, Illinois to Chariton, Iowa. (See a map of the ImpactLife service region.) ImpactLife operates 23 Donor Centers and holds approximately 5000 mobile blood drives annually to provide blood components needed for patient transfusions at hospitals throughout our region.

For more information on blood inventories and donor promotions, see www.bloodcenter.org and find us @impactlifeblood on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and Snapchat.

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