Published by Kirby Winn on Wednesday, July 31, 2024 in News Releases
ImpactLife has joined a national effort to support a major blood provider in the southeast following a ransomware attack that has slowed blood processing and distribution in the region. OneBlood, the not-for-profit blood center serving much of the southeastern United States is experiencing a ransomware event that is impacting its software system. In response, ImpactLife has shipped hundreds of blood products to help meet patient needs in the region and is preparing to send more, as needed.
ImpactLife is now looking to increase donations from volunteers in our communities to continue that level of support while maintaining commitments to our Midwest region. To schedule an appointment for blood donation, please call (800) 747-5401, schedule online at www.bloodcenter.org, or via the ImpactLife mobile app (www.bloodcenter.org/app). Walk-in donors are welcome; appointments help reduce wait times.
OneBlood news release: Critical Software Systems Starting to Come Back Online; Donations Encouraged Hurricane Debby Makes Landfall
AABB Interorganizational Disaster Response Task Force coordinates national response
The AABB Interorganizational Disaster Response Task Force is coordinating the national response to support transfusion needs for hospitals served by OneBlood. ImpactLife has supported the resource sharing effort by shipping blood components to OneBlood over the last week and will continue to do so, as needed, and as ImpactLife blood inventory levels permit.
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The response by the AABB Interorganizational Disaster Response Task Force has in turn led to activation of the national Blood Emergency Readiness Corps (BERC). ImpactLife is among 36 community blood centers in the U.S. that rotate through “on call” status every three weeks. By setting additional units of blood aside during the “on-call” week, BERC members establish a ready pool of blood that can be tapped into during disasters, providing an invaluable safety net in times of crisis.
“Seeing our national network of blood providers respond to the cyberattack against OneBlood is a reminder that serious challenges to blood inventory can happen at any time,” said Mike Rasso, Director, Sales and Inventory. “Being a part of BERC and working with other national partners gives us confidence that outside sources are readily available whenever a crisis may arise.”
ImpactLife is next scheduled to be “on call” for BERC beginning next Monday (August 5-11).
Media Resource: Learn about BERC
ImpactLife Donor Promotions (through August)
To thank donors who give blood during this critical time of year, ImpactLife will provide all presenting donors with a voucher to redeem for their choice of an electronic gift card, bonus points to use in the Donor Rewards Store, or an equivalent donation to Make-a-Wish Illinois, Make-a-Wish Iowa, Make-a-Wish Missouri, or Make-a-Wish Wisconsin via the blood center’s “Good Giving” program.
- Whole blood donation (Donor Centers and mobile blood drives)
- $20 gift card, $20 donation OR 1,000 points
- Double red and plasma only donations
- $25 gift card, $25 donation OR 1,500 points
- Platelet donations (donors who have given platelets 2+ times previously with ImpactLife)
- $45 gift card, $45 donation OR 2,500 points
- Platelet donations (donor’s first or second attempt to ever give platelets with ImpactLife)
- $70 gift card, $70 donation OR 4,000 points
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. The blood center operates 23 Donor Centers and holds approximately 5000 mobile blood drives annually to provide blood components needed by hospitals and in pre-hospital emergency response throughout our region.
For more information on blood inventories and donor promotions, see www.bloodcenter.org and find us @impactlifeblood on Facebook, X, Instagram, YouTube, and LinkedIn.
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